Stocks Down For Third Straight Day, Dow Sinks Toward 12000

[Stocks-to-Watch]

U.S. stocks have been falling all week, and continued their decline today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) recently off 82 points to 12024.

Fears over Libya’s stability continued to fuel the rise in the price of oil, which continued to flirt with $100 a barrel throughout the trading day.* Although consumer confidence was climbing last week and initial jobless claims fell, economists are concerned that a jump in fuel prices could curtail consumers’ appetites and* curb demand.

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) also continued to be a drag on the Dow;* it was recently down 2.5%, the biggest laggard in the index. The stock has been falling since an earnings miss after the market Tuesday.



Original Article Source by Barrons.com