Economy

US stocks follow European markets lower

Stocks are opening lower on Wall Street as traders worried about a slowdown in Europe's economy and signs that the Federal Reserve might curtail its bond-buying program.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 48 points at 13,878 shortly after the opening bell Thursday. The Standard & Poor's 500 fell seven to 1,504. The Nasdaq lost 11 points to 3,152. European markets also fell.

Business in the European Union slowed in February, suggesting that a downturn that began last year will continue into 2013. A monthly purchasing managers' index from financial information company Markit fell, missing analysts' forecasts.

In the U.S., the Labor Department reported that the number of people applying for unemployment benefits jumped last week. The four-week average rose to the highest in six weeks.

Related Headlines

  • Michael Hagis

    US stocks erase most of an early swoon

    Wall Street is recovering nearly all of an early loss as traders shrug off a rout in overseas markets. The Dow Jones industrial average was down a fraction of a point at ... 

  • Measure of future growth up 0.5 pct. in December

    A measure of the U.S. economy designed to signal future activity increased in December from November, suggesting growth may strengthen in early 2013. The Conference Board said ... 

  • Dow Jones average pulls back from latest record

    Stocks are closing lower on Wall Street as investors cut their holdings of high-dividend stocks they favored at the beginning of the year. The yield on the 10-year Treasury ... 

  • Richard Cohen

    US stocks edge higher in early trading

    Stock prices are moving slightly higher in early trading on Wall Street after the government reported an encouraging drop in claims for unemployment benefits. Minutes after ... 

Overnight Averages

Find your future job here