Major stock indexes were lower headed into the last hour of trading Thursday as investors weighed a better-than-expected Q3 GDP increase, mixed durable goods data and a big jump in weekly jobless claims.
The Nasdaq underperformed, falling 0.5%. while the Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 eased 0.2%. Volume on the NYSE and Nasdaq was tracking slightly higher than Wednesday's levels.
Retail stocks got slammed on news President-Elect Trump is considering a 5% import tariff. Meanwhile, a report from market research firm NPD said that dollar sales in the first six weeks of the holiday shopping season were down 4% from the year-ago period.
Wal-Mart (WMT), Home Depot (HD) and Apple (AAPL) lagged in the Dow, while Dollar Tree (DLTR) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) underperformed in the Nasdaq 100.
Oil and gas stocks outperformed as oil prices rose. WTI crude oil futures for February delivery gained around 1% to $53.03 a barrel.
Retail-related groups were among the worst performers with losses ranging from 2-4%.
Inside the IBD 50, Stamps.com (STMP) reversed lower, falling 0.1%. It's trying to clear a 114.70 cup-with-handle buy point but volume has been light.
IBD'S TAKE: Stamps.com's Composite Rating of 87 ranks it No. 2 in the Retail-Internet group. See who the other top performers in the group are with IBD Stock Checkup.
Weight Watchers (WTW), a heavily-shorted stock, soared 11% after Oprah Winfrey, who owns a 10% stake in the weight-loss firm, said she lost 40 pounds.
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