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US stocks edge lower after disappointing earnings

Source: Agencies | November 20, 2013, Wednesday | Online Edition

Disappointing earnings news helped push the stock market lower yesterday.

Electronics retailer Best Buy plunged after saying extended store hours and price-cutting could squeeze its fourth-quarter profit. Campbell Soup fell sharply after reporting that its profit slumped as sales of soups and V8 drinks fell. The two stocks were the biggest decliners in the Standard & Poor's 500 index.

Even with the slight decline the S&P 500 is still up 25 percent so far in 2013 and has risen for six weeks straight, the longest winning streak since February. The extended run-up has prompted a number of market watchers to call for caution.

"We've had a phenomenal run, particularly in the last few weeks. I wouldn't be surprised if we would pull back from here," said Alec Young, global equity strategist with S&P Capital IQ.

The Dow Jones industrial average edged down 8.99 points, or 0.1 percent, to 15,967.03, the first decline for the index in five days. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 3.66 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,787.87 and the Nasdaq composite fell 17.51 points, or 0.4 percent, to 3,931.55.

The Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 crossed round-number milestones in early trading Monday but failed to build on those advances. The Dow crossed 16,000 and the S&P 500 hit 1,800 for the first time before falling back to close below those levels both Monday and yesterday.

Retailers were a key focus yesterday, especially with the holiday shopping season coming up. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Consumer spending is a critical component of the economy, so how consumers behave during the closely watched holiday season will give investors a sign about the outlook for growth.

Best Buy sank US$4.78, or 11 percent, to US$38.78 after its warning of a tough holiday trading period ahead. The company's stock is still up 227 percent this year, making it the second-best performer in the S&P 500 after Netflix.

Home Depot rose 71 cents, or 0.9 percent, to US$80.38 after reporting income that surpassed analysts' expectations. The company also raised its earnings forecast for the year.

TJX Cos., which operates discount stores including T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, climbed 63 cents, or 1 percent, to US$63.12. Its income rose 35 percent as sales improved at both US and international stores.

Investors will turn their thoughts back to the Federal Reserve today.

Minutes from the Fed's October meeting will be released at 2 p.m. and investors will scour them to get a read on the central bank's stimulus policy. The central bank is currently buying US$85 billion of bonds a month to keep interest rates low and boost the economy. That has underpinned a rally in stocks.

Investors were also watching JPMorgan Chase. The bank reached a record US$13 billion settlement with federal and New York State authorities, resolving claims over the bank's sales of mortgage-backed securities that collapsed during the US housing crisis.

JPMorgan closed 41 cents, or 0.7 percent, higher at US$56.15.

In government bond trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged up to 2.71 percent from 2.67 percent. Crude oil rose 31 cents, or 0.3 percent, to US$93.34 a barrel and gold edged up US$1.20, or 0.1 percent, to US$1,273.50 an ounce.

Among other stocks making big moves:

— United Continental rose US$1.42, or 3.9 percent, to US$37.80 after the airline operator told investors that it will cut costs, overhaul its website, and shift routes from Asia to Europe.

— Campbell Soup dropped US$2.61, or 6.2 percent, to US$39.20 after reporting that its quarterly profit plunged 30 percent. A recall of the recently acquired Plum Organics products also hurt results, and the company cut its earnings forecast for the year.

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