Dow drops slightly
US investors sold stocks moderately lower today, ending a five-day rally as rising oil prices and disappointing results from Lowes raised concerns about a slowdown in consumer spending.
Lowes, the US’s second-largest home-improvement chain after Home Depot, reported second-quarter profit rose 11%. However, the company cut its full-year earnings outlook on worries that higher energy prices and a sluggish housing market would curb consumers willingness to spend.
Wall Street was also troubled by Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which sent oil prices up $1.38 to $72.52 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Fears that higher crude prices would limit US economic growth sent shares of homebuilders and airlines lower.
The pullback came after last week’s gains pushed major indexes to three-month highs. With few corporate earnings reports this week and only two major economic reports due out, investors were hard-pressed to extend the rally.
“In general, people are still pretty spooked by the global situation and the Middle East, and are wondering what kind of legs the market has in the short term,” said Phil Dow, director of equity strategy for RBC Dain Rauscher. “There’s not much in the way of expectations for the week, but we could be moving toward a platform for a decent rally.”
Easing tensions in the Middle East helped drive oil prices lower last week, and trigger a rally on Wall Street. Profit-taking after the weeklong rally came on extremely light volume, typical for a late August day with little market-moving news.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 36.42, or 0.32%, to 11,345.05. Last week, the Dow Jones rose 2.65%.
Broader stock indicators also slid. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 4.78, or 0.35%, to close at 1,297.52, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 16.20, or 0.75%, to 2,147.75.
Bonds were little changed, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury note falling to 4.82% from 4.84% on Friday. The dollar was mixed against other major currencies, while gold prices rose.
Wall Street focused on oil in the absence of other news. However, one portfolio manager contends the impact of higher crude prices on stocks might just be a speed bump.
“The market and the economy have proved that even if oil moves to $80 a barrel, it won’t be a major event,” said Stephen Leeb, whose Leeb Capital Management manages some 110 million of assets.
“On a near-term basis, this won’t be a big deal, but longer term, if we hit that triple-digit figure, it will then start to have more of an effect,” he said.
Among the most heavily traded companies was Lowe’s, which tumbled 1.17, or 4%, to 28.35. Rival Home Depot’s shares fell 47 cents to 34.30.
Another declining retailer was discount store chain Dollar General, which lowered guidance for its fiscal second quarter due to higher sales of low-margin goods and a slow back-to-school season. The stock dropped 1.35, or 9.6%, to 12.74.
The prospect of higher fuel prices and its effect on the economy drove American Airlines-parent AMR shares down 45 cents, or 2.2%, to 20.49. Continental Airlines shares gave up 93 cents, or 3.8%, to 23.44.
Meanwhile, homebuilder Toll Brothers’ shares lost 1.02, or 4%, to 24.77. Shares of Pulte Homes, the US’s largest homebuilder, fell 92 cents, or 3.1%, to 28.97.
Shares of Ford Motor Co declined 53 cents, or 6.6%, to 7.47 after announcing it would temporarily halt production at 10 assembly plants between now and the end of the year. The stock was downgraded by several analysts, including Credit Suisse moving the vehicle manufacturer to “under-perform” from a ”neutral” rating.
Declining issues outnumbered advancers by an almost 2 to 1 basis on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume totalled 1.12 billion million shares, compared to 1.35 billion traded on Friday.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 6.35, or 0.89%, to 705.33.
