Economic Unease Undermines Market

Stocks

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The Dow Jones industrial average flirted early in the week with its historical high, but stocks finished on a losing note amid worries of a slowing economy.

The Dow ended the week down 52.67, or 0.46 percent, at 11,508.10. The S&P 500 index fell 4.88, or 0.37 percent, to 1314.78. The Nasdaq composite index lost 16.66, or 0.75 percent, to end at 2218.93.

Stocks had a slight jump on much-anticipated news that the Federal Reserve would continue to hold off on interest rate increases. But a Thursday report from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank showed manufacturing levels in the red for the first time in three years. Meanwhile, Hewlett-Packard's stock fell after news of a management shakeup following the leak investigation scandal.

Reports on the housing market from the Commerce Department and the National Association of Realtors this week are likely to weigh on investors' minds. Uneasiness about a cooling real estate market sent stocks down last month and could be a prime indicator of a weakening economy.

-- Chris Kirkham