Wall Street Edges Lower As Economy Eyed
Wall Street retreated from multiyear highs for a second day on Tuesday as investors looked to upcoming economic data this week to help extend a rally that has been largely driven by central bank stimulus.
Stocks have rallied 7 percent since early August, propelling the S&P 500 index to the highest in nearly five years as central banks in Europe and the United States acted to prop up flagging economies. But analysts say that for the rally to continue economic data needs to improve.
"If we don't start seeing stronger U.S. economic data and Chinese, or we don't start seeing strong policy measures out of the Chinese, then I think we're going be due for a correction," said Jack de Gan, chief investment officer at Harbor Advisory Corp in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
De Gan said if the economic data does not improve, he would look for a correction in the S&P 500 back towards the index's 50-day moving average, which is about 5 percent below current levels.
FedEx Corp (FDX.N) cut its profit forecast for its fiscal year 2013 on Tuesday, saying that a weakening world economy had prompted customers to shift toward lower-priced shipping. The shares fell 2 percent to $87.60. Earlier this month FedEx warned the slowing economy was hurting its results.
The NAHB Housing Market Index at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) is expected to be little changed in September after unexpectedly gaining in the previous two months. However, at 37 on the index sentiment remains well below the 50s to 70s seen in the 1990s and 2000s. The NAHB data is the first of a series of housing data this week.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 19.70 points, or 0.14 percent, to 13,573.67. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX fell 2.34 points, or 0.16 percent, to 1,463.43. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC dropped 7.66 points, or 0.24 percent, to 3,176.29.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD.N) shares fell 7.6 percent. The firm said Chief Financial Officer Thomas Seifert was leaving the struggling personal computer chipmaker to pursue other opportunities.
Weakness in commodity markets looked set to weigh on related stocks. Copper fell for a second day after a rally triggered last week by the U.S. Federal Reserve's new stimulus efforts ran out of steam and investors booked profits. Shares in Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX.N) fell 1 percent.
"The market may already have 'prepaid' for the QE3 easing announcement," said Goldman Sachs in a research note. "For the equity market moves to extend, an improvement in the macro data will now need to show up."
European shares and the euro fell on Tuesday as investors turned their attention from central bank stimulus to slowing global growth and uncertainty about Spain's desire for an international aid package.
Dole Food Company Inc (DOLE.N) will sell two businesses to Itochu Corp (8001.T) for $1.7 billion in cash - a deal that will help the world's largest fruit and vegetable producer pay down its heavy debt load while expanding Itochu's food presence in new markets such as China. Dole's shares jumped 2.3 percent to $14.01.
REUTERS