Stocks Move Lower

Disappointing earnings, high oil prices and the sinking U.S. dollar are combing to pressure stocks on Thursday.

Pfizer
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reported a 77% decline in Q3 net income, citing a number of reasons from generic drugs, to a charge it had to take for exiting its diabetes drug (read more). The company also revised its full-year 07 outlook and backed its full-year 08 forecast.

Bank of America
(
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third quarter profit fell by 32%, with trading losses and write-downs being the primary cause, once again related to the credit markets (read more).

UnitedHealth
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reported a a 15% rise in Q3 profit (read more).

Sales were up at Nucor
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but profit fell by 27% (read more).

The U.S. peso dollar fell to a record low versus the euro and crude oil hit another record high.

Market Snapshot

Dow

-44.79 13847.75

NASDAQ

-14.07 2778.60

S&P 500

-6.64 1534.60

  NYSE NASDAQ

Volume

521,432,650 861,010,289

Up Volume

192,370,310 305,508,814

Down Volume

322,968,640 538,284,433

Advances

1225 1076

Declines

1862 1701

New Highs

84 46

New Lows

105 101

Strongest/Weakest Industry Groups

Strongest Industries

% Change

Weakest Industries

% Change
Computer Peripherals
+2.97%
Independent Oil & Gas
-8.12%
Hospitals
+2.65%
Savings & Loans
-3.38%
Toy & Hobby Stores
+2.33%
Surety & Title Insurance
-3.28%


Economic
News

Initial Claims (10/13): Actual 337K, Consensus 315K