Banking concerns, GE results drag stocks lower

NEW YORK — Concerns about banks and a disappointing drop in revenue at General Electric halted a market rally Friday.

Stocks initially jumped after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke reiterated the central bank is ready to do more to stimulate the sluggish economy. Bernanke's comments were the latest confirmation the central bank is about to ramp up its purchase of Treasury bonds to spark growth.

But that burst of optimism couldn't fully overcome worries about how banks like Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. handled the foreclosure process on failed mortgages. Both banks, along with General Electric Co., were the primary culprits in sending the Dow Jones industrial average down nearly 60 points in afternoon trading.

"The market is not going to continue to rally if financials accelerate to the downside," said Maier Tarlow, a managing director at Raven Securities. "It's a major roadblock."

The technology-dominated Nasdaq composite index got a lift from Google Inc., whose shares skyrocketed after the Internet search giant reported a big jump in earnings.

A small drop in the University of Michigan/Reuters consumer sentiment survey countered signs of growth in retail sales and manufacturing activity in New York.

Economists polled by Thomson Reuters expected the preliminary reading on October consumer sentiment to rise slightly. Retail sales climbed in September by more than economists had forecast. Manufacturing activity in New York surged in October and pointed to continued expansion in the coming months.

In afternoon trading, the Dow fell 59.83, or 0.5 percent, to 11,034.59. It had been up as much as 47 points shortly after the opening bell.

The Nasdaq jumped 21.47, or 0.9 percent, to 2,456.85.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 1.50, or 0.1 percent, to 1,172.31.

The Fed has hinted in recent weeks it would resume a program it ran during the recession to stimulate the economy. Bernanke's comments Friday were the most definitive proclamation yet that the Fed would act. However, he cautioned the central bank is still trying to figure out how big the bond purchase program should be.

Anthony Chan, chief economist at J.P.Morgan Private Wealth Management, said Bernanke successfully walked a fine line Friday between maintaining market enthusiasm over the expected program and avoiding upsetting other Fed board members who might have differing opinions.

The program would likely be aimed at driving interest rates down from already low levels in an effort to spark borrowing and spending by companies and consumers.

More spending, in turn, could lift corporate sales and lead to more jobs. High unemployment remains one of the biggest drags on the economy.

Stocks have been rallying in recent weeks in anticipation the Fed would announce a firm plan at its next meeting, which wraps up Nov. 3. Lower rates have helped stocks because it drives down yields on Treasury bonds. That makes stocks and other riskier investments like commodities more attractive.

"The Federal Reserve has basically put a floor in the market," said Kevin Mahn, chief investment officer at Hennion & Walsh Asset Management.

Any action by the Fed could have the dual effect of increasing inflation. Bernanke said inflation still remains too low by historical standards. If rates drop and borrowing and spending pick up, prices would rise.

The government said Friday that the consumer price index, a measure of inflation at the retail level, rose just 0.1 percent last month. Prices were flat excluding volatile food and energy costs.

Bond prices were trading in a tight range after Bernanke's speech. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 2.58 percent from 2.51 percent late Thursday. Its yield is helped to set interest rates on mortgages and other consumer loans.

Bank of America shares fell 63 cents, or 5 percent, to $11.97, while JPMorgan Chase dropped $1.43, or 3.7 percent, to $37.29. GE fell 96 cents, or 5.6 percent, to $16.20.

Google shares jumped $58.63, or 10.8 percent, to $599.55.

In other earnings news, shares of toy maker Mattel Inc. dropped 7.7 percent after it also failed to meet revenue forecasts. It fell $1.85 to $22.15.

Copyright 2010 The A