NEW YORK, Oct 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as disappointing housing and inflation data prompted investors to book profits, overshadowing another slate of strong results from such bellwethers as Apple Inc and Caterpillar.
* Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average shed 50.71 points, or 0.50 percent, to end unofficially at 10,041.48. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index declined 6.85 points, or 0.62 percent, to close unofficially at 1,091.06. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 12.85 points, or 0.59 percent, to close unofficially at 2,163.47. (Reporting by Ellis Mnyandu; Editing by Jan Paschal)