US stocks mixed
After stocks posted strong gains last week, two of the three indices finished modestly lower.
NEW YORK (AFP) - US stocks were mixed this week as investors grappled with a batch of mostly disappointing economic data that has been seen as compromised by weather.
After stocks posted strong gains last week, two of the three indices finished modestly lower.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 51.09 (0.32 percent) over the holiday-shortened week to 16,103.30, while the S&P 500 slipped 2.38 (0.13 percent) to 1,836.25.
The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index rose 19.39 (0.46 percent) to finish the week at 4,263.41.
The week was fairly light on economic data, with markets closed Monday for a public holiday. Highlights included a drop in January existing-home sales and a steep decline in the National Association of Home Builders index of homebuilder sentiment.
Yet markets essentially shrugged off the reports, as was the case with disappointing reports on US jobs growth and retail sales released earlier in the month.
Investors believe the data have been distorted by a run of cold weather that has depressed economic activity in much of the United States.
"On balance the economic data are weaker than expected," said Bill Lynch, director of investments at Hinsdale Associates.
"Because of the extreme weather across the country, (investors) are willing to give the economic data a pass, at least for now."
Christopher Low, chief economist at FTN Financial, said the market is moving "tentatively" in light of the reservations about data.
"There is a growing sense that we re likely to have three months of unreliable data," Low said. "We really don t know what the background economic picture is."
On Wednesday, minutes from the US Federal Reserve s January monetary policy meeting sent shares lower.
The minutes showed a larger number of policy makers sought an early hike in the Fed s benchmark interest rate amid growing confidence in the US economy. Still, the minutes made clear that a majority continued to favor ultra-low interest rates through 2015.
A note from Nomura characterized the Fed minutes as a "nonevent". Stocks did not see significant movement on Thursday or Friday.
Major corporate news included Facebook s surprise announcement that it would buy messaging service WhatsApp in a $19 billion cash-and-stock.
The deal marries Facebook, the world s biggest social network with more than 1.2 billion members, with WhatsApp, which has 450 million users.
Analysts generally praised the acquisition as a savvy way for Facebook to lock up the free messaging market, even if the price tag is steep.
The week s other big deal was the $25 billion acquisition of US pharmaceutical company Forest Laboratories by Actavis, a US drugs firm based in Dublin.
The deal constituted a major payday for activist Carl Icahn, the second-biggest shareholder in Forest, who had long challenged Forest s leaders.
In earnings news, Wal-Mart Stores reported a hefty drop in quarterly profits following a weak holiday shopping season in the US.
The world s biggest retailer also unveiled major new investments in smaller stores and online shopping as it seeks to boost US sales following a run of disappointing results.
PepsiCo returned to the headlines after activist investor Nelson Peltz reportedly delivered a letter to the company s board calling for it to separate the company s global snacks and beverages businesses to increase shareholder value.
Major economic reports next week include the Conference Board s report on consumer confidence, the Case-Shiller home-price index and the second estimate of fourth-quarter gross domestic product. Fed Chair Janet Yellen is scheduled to testify before a Senate panel on Thursday.
Do-it-yourself retailer Home Depot will report fourth-quarter earnings and JPMorgan Chase will host an annual investor day in New York.
