💎 Fed’s first rate cut since 2020 set to trigger market. Find undervalued gems with Fair ValueSee Undervalued Stocks

US STOCKS-Markets drop after consumer confidence data

Published 09/28/2010, 10:43 AM
Updated 09/28/2010, 10:48 AM

* Consumer confidence worse than expected

* Apple falls sharply

* Walgreen jumps after earnings

* Indexes down: Dow 0.1 pct, S&P 0.3 pct, Nasdaq 0.5 pct (Adds consumer confidence data)

By Edward Krudy

NEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday after weak consumer confidence data poured cold water on investors looking to extend a blistering September rally.

Signs the economy was on firmer footing have boosted equities about 9 percent so far this month, but the unexpected drop in consumer confidence challenged that view.

"There's not a lot of good in the report. It really missed expectations, though I'm somewhat surprised the market is taking it on the chin like it is," said Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at the Convergex Group in New York.

The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 11.50 points, or 0.11 percent, to 10,800.54. The Standard & Poor's 500 fell 3.54 points, or 0.31 percent, to 1,138.62. The Nasdaq Composite was off 11.22 points, or 0.47 percent, to 2,358.55.

Technology shares led the market decline in early trading. Apple Inc fell as much as 5.6 percent before easing to trade down 1.8 percent at $286.05. The stock hit all-time intraday highs every session last week as well as on Monday.

Research in Motion Ltd dropped 3.3 percent to $46.73 a day after it unveiled a new tablet computer.

U.S. consumer confidence ebbed in September to its lowest levels since February, driven by deteriorating labor market and business conditions, a private report showed.

Walgreen Co, the biggest U.S. drugstore chain, reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings, helped by strong prescription drug sales. Its shares jumped 9.4 percent to $33.18.

Continuing the spurt of recent M&A activity, Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc will buy private generics maker Qualitest Pharmaceuticals for about $1.2 billion, marking its second deal in as many months. The stock advanced 9 percent to $33.36.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.