The Closing Bell: Dow falls more than 100 points

Wall Street has ended an erratic day with a lopsided loss, with the Dow Jones industrials bearing the brunt of investors’ concerns over the health of the financial sector. The Dow fell more than 100 points, but the other major indexes ended with much smaller losses. High-tech and small-cap stocks fared better than the broader market, proof that investors were wary and choosy. The market started the day day disappointed by the government’s retail sales report. And a jump in oil prices further dampened the market’s mood. According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 109.51 points, or .94 percent, and closed at 11,532.96 The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 3.76 points, or 0.29 percent, and closed at 1,285.83. The Nasdaq composite index dropped 1.99 points, or 0.08 percent, and closed at 2,428.62.... [read full story]