US markets slip; Dow snaps 10-day winning streak

16 Mar 2013 Evaluate

The US markets retreated on Friday, ending the longest advance by the Dow in more than 16 years and containing the S&P 500 just as it neared its record close, after consumer confidence unexpectedly dropped and as inflation edged higher in more than three years. Led by an expected surge in gasoline prices, consumer prices rose in February at the fastest pace in more than three years, though longer-term trends show stability. The US consumer prices rose 0.7% in February for the largest gain since June 2009. Gasoline prices rose 9.1%, also making the largest jump since June 2009, and accounted for almost three-fourths of February’s gain in the consumer price index. The broader price category for energy increased 5.4%. Despite the CPI’s large jump in February, longer-term trends remain within the Federal Reserve’s target. Besides, the University of Michigan-Thomson Reuters consumer-sentiment gauge dropped to a preliminary March reading of 71.8 -- the lowest level since December 2011 -- from a final February reading of 77.6.

On the other hand, the Empire State manufacturing index remained in positive territory for the second month after six straight negative readings. The Empire State index slipped to 9.2 in March from 10 in the prior month. The index had been in negative from August through December. Additionally, industrial production rebounded in February after a weak report in the prior month on the back of stronger manufacturing and utility production, total production rose by 0.7%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 25.03 points or 0.17 percent to 14,514.10, the S&P 500 dropped 2.53 points or 0.16 percent to 1,560.70 and the Nasdaq slipped 9.86 points or 0.30 percent to 3,249.07.

The Indian ADRs closed mostly in red on Friday, ICICI Bank was down 0.85%, HDFC Bank was down by 0.54% and Tata Communications down by 0.34%. On the other hand, Infosys was up by 0.33% and Sterlite Industries was down 0.04%. 

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