By ,
Published January 13, 2015
Stocks slid on Tuesday as indications of slumping consumer confidence and a weak sales report from Wal-Mart (WMT) sparked concerns that consumers may be spending less. The Dow slumped over 180 points while the Nasdaq fell roughly 2 percent.
The fall came as the Conference Board's consumer confidence index indicated a drop in sentiment from April. Though the fall in the index was less than expected, in combination with soft sales data from Wal-Mart, the decline spooked investors. Higher oil prices also weighed on Wall Street.
Wal-Mart blamed its modest sales on the impact of rising gasoline and utilities prices on its customers.
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The Dow plummeted 184.18, or 1.63 percent, to 11,094.43, giving back all of the 180 points it gained in last week's runup. The Dow lost 214 points on May 11, its biggest one-day decline in three years.
Broader stock indicators retreated sharply. The Standard & Poor's 500 index dropped 20.28, or 1.58 percent, to 1,259.88; the Nasdaq composite index plunged 45.63, or 2.06 percent, to 2,164.74, falling back into negative territory for 2006.
More declines for the U.S. dollar fueled jitters about inflation and slowing global growth amid sharp drops in overseas markets. A broker's downgrade of General Motors Corp. (GM) also added pressure to the Dow industrials.
Tuesday's selling followed three straight days of gains last week, when mild economic data calmed inflation fears and temporarily halted a steep two-week slide. Investors have been wary of the chance for more rate hikes; this week's key figures on labor costs and wages are expected to provide some guidance on the Federal Reserve's next move.
Ken Tower, chief market strategist for Schwab's CyberTrader, said he remained optimistic about a growing consensus that the economy is in good shape and that inflation is under control, which could keep the Fed from boosting rates.
"This pullback is not what you would've wished for, but it's still in the context of a recovering market," Tower said. "If we're in an ongoing rally phase, this is where we ought to bottom out and see the market move higher."
Renewed uncertainty about interest rates sent bonds lower, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury note edging up to 5.09 percent from 5.05 percent late Friday.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar slumped against other major currencies as Wall Street questioned the impact of Henry Paulson's nomination as Treasury secretary on the nation's foreign-exchange policy. Paulson, chairman and chief executive of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), is believed to push for a strong dollar to encourage the in-flow of foreign capital.
The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index for May fell to 103.2 from a four-year high of 109.8 the month before, topping estimates of 100.9. But while many on Wall Street have been hoping for a gradual economic slowdown, some fear that persistently high energy prices could trigger a sudden dropoff that leads the economy into a downturn.
Rick Pendergraft, an equity trader at Schaeffer's Investment Research, said the market will be fixated on this week's data for evidence of moderating economic activity. He noted that consumers were most concerned about employment in the Conference Board report; the Labor Department reports monthly job growth on Friday.
"We're walking a fine line right now: We want to see growth, but too strong of growth is going to lead the Fed to raise rates again," Pendergraft said of the upcoming data. "That's going to scare the market."
Crude futures rose amid expectations of greater fuel demand during the summer driving season, and as forecasters warn of hurricane activity in the coming months. A barrel of light crude surged 78 cents to $72.15 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
In corporate news, Wal-Mart said its May same-store sales grew 2.3 percent, at the low end of forecasts. Wal-Mart dropped $1.19 to $48.46.
Deutsche Bank cut GM to "sell" on concerns about valuation and moderating vehicle sales. GM sank $1.41 to $26.67.
Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) said its chairman and chief executive officer is leading a $13.4 billion bid to take the pipeline operator private for $100 per share. Kinder Morgan surged $16.16 to $100.57.
Albertsons Inc. posted a higher first-quarter profit that handily topped Wall Street estimates, although its revenue was flat and missed targets. Albertsons added 5 cents to $25.67.
Declining issues outpaced advancers by about 3 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume of 1.13 billion shares led the 1.06 billion shares changing hands at the same point Friday.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies declined 14.05, or 1.93 percent, to 715.50.
Overseas, Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.35 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 lost 2.4 percent, Germany's DAX index dropped 2.3 percent and France's CAC-40 was lower by 2.42 percent.
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The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/stocks-plunge-on-oil-sliding-consumer-confidence