Modest growth in the gross domestic product and a drop in oil prices gave Wall Street its best day of 2005 today as investors at least temporarily set aside inflation fears and picked up bargains in a heavily sold-off market.

Stocks were mixed today with blue chip and tech shares rising only modestly despite lower oil prices and several mergers and acquisitions, including Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.’s 1.5 billion dollar bid for several candy brands from Kraft Foods Inc.

Investors left stocks in limbo today, making few commitments while they awaited Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s testimony before Congress later this week.

Investors sent US stocks surging today, propelling the Dow Jones industrials up more than 115 points and into the shadow of 10,000 after a pair of reports showed better-than-expected growth in the manufacturing sector and construction spending.

Bargain hunters surfaced on Wall Street today, sending stocks sharply higher after two days of steep declines left blue chips and tech shares at four- and six-year lows.