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Stocks Fall on Housing Data
AP
Stocks Fall on Housing Data
Monday March 26, 11:23 am ET
By Joe Bel Bruno, AP Business Writer
Wall Street Stumbles As Disappointing Housing Data Feeds Worries About Economy
NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks fell sharply Monday after a surprise drop in new home sales for February triggered further concern that economic growth is slowing more than expected. The Dow Jones industrials at times showed losses of more than 100 points.
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The Commerce Department reported that sales of new single-family homes fell by 3.9 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 848,000. It was the slowest sales pace in nearly seven years and dimmed hopes for a rebound in the troubled housing market.
Economists have been watching the housing industry for a hint about where the economy is heading. The disappointing data also comes amid continued concern about the subprime mortgage market, which has been slammed by an increase in delinquencies in recent months.
The data took a chunk out of last week's 370 point gain on the Dow Jones industrial average, its best weekly performance in four years. In late morning trading, the benchmark index fell 102.78, or 0.82 percent, to 12,378.23 in morning trading on Monday. The Dow fell by as much as 112 points.
"Investors are looking to figure out how things are going to shake out after a big move higher last week," said Mike Malone, a trading analyst at Cowen & Co. "Given the magnitude of the move higher we had last week, I don't find this to be overly surprising. I think you're seeing some profit taking."
Broader stock indicators also sank. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 11.53, or 0.80 percent, at 1,424.58, and the Nasdaq composite index dropped 18.64, or 0.76 percent, to 2,430.29.
Bonds rallied, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note falling to 4.57 percent from 4.61 percent late Friday. Bond investors have been hoping that a slowing economy will cause the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.
The dollar mixed against other major currencies, while gold prices advanced.
Oil prices rose Monday, with a barrel of light sweet crude up 80 cents to $63.08 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude prices have risen steadily on continued tensions between Iran and the West following Iran's detention of British naval personnel. Recent declines in U.S. oil inventories also supported the market.
Citigroup Inc. fell 32 cents to $51.40 on speculation it might reduce its workforce by about 5 percent, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company has been under pressure during the past year to boost earnings to fend off rivals from eating into its global market share.
Dell Inc. rose 55 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $23.38 after a Goldman Sachs analyst said the computer maker should see benefits from its turnaround efforts later this year.
Walgreen Co. reported second-quarter profit surpassed Wall Street projections as the drug store chain posted robust revenue from retail prescriptions. The stock fell 4 cents to $47.73.
Fiscal fourth-quarter profits at Tiffany & Co. remained essentially flat as the luxury jewelry retailer recorded an impairment charge. Revenue, however, rose 15 percent to $986.4 million. Results came in ahead of Wall Street's expectations. The stock fell 20 cents at $45.30 after hitting a 52-week high of $46.09 at the open.
Kimberly-Clark Corp., the maker of consumer brands like Kleenex and Huggies, on Monday said it still expects to meet its full-year profit target. Shares fell 49 cents to $68.50.
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. is planning a bid worth up to $12 billion for General Electric Co.'s plastics unit, the Financial Times reported Monday. GE fell 33 cents to $35.49.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies was up 7.33, or 0.91 percent, at 802.18.
Overseas, Japan's Nikkei stock average closed up 0.24 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 down 0.87 percent, Germany's DAX index was down 1.24 percent, and France's CAC-40 was fell 1.36 percent.
New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com
Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com |
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