WALL Street stocks managed slight gains yesterday after trailing lower as interest rates rose and investors grew anxious about tomorrow's report on US inflation.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 1.08 points to close at 5475.14. The barometer of big US companies, which staged an abrupt turnaround with the broad market late on Wednesday, was up for most of the session, gaining nearly 30 at one point.

The Dow and broader blue chip indexes have been struggling in recent weeks amid inflation worries and the persistent rise of interest rates, which threatens corporate profit growth and makes bonds an increasingly attractive investment.

The NYSE's composite index rose 0.63 to 346.61. The Standard and Poor's 500 stock index rose 0.66 to 645.44. The Nasdaq composite index rose 4.11 to 1,187.54. At the American Stock Exchange, the market value index rose 0.63 to 346.61.