Energy and basic materials stocks led the slide in the S&P 500's worst day since Jan. 28, and billionaire investor Ken Fisher told Reuters he is "more neutral on stocks than I've been in years."
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> lost 41.55 points, or 0.34 percent, at 12,226.64. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 4.31 points, or 0.32 percent, at 1,328.01. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> slipped 12.83 points, or 0.46 percent, at 2,804.35.
NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 15 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower for a third session on Tuesday, tracking equities, which fell as a smaller-than-expected rise in retail sales last month raised worries about the strength of the economic recovery.
The dollar rebounded from its early lows, keeping crude down. That overshadowed earlier news showing that inflation was lower than expected in China, and continuing worries about spreading unrest in the Middle East.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude
CBOT-CHICAGO, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Tuesday.
CBOT-SOYBEANS - March
CBOT-SOYOIL - March
FCPO-JAKARTA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures dropped as much as 1 percent on Monday, with trading range-bound as investors booked profits ahead of eagerly anticipated export data due later this week.
The benchmark April 2011 crude palm oil contract
REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets pulled back on Tuesday as China's closely watched inflation data failed to allay concerns over price pressures in emerging markets, but loan growth optimism lifted banks.
Inflation concerns plagued regional sentiment and kept investors cautious over the outlook of corporate profits. Turnover of Thai stocks <.SETI> fell to 0.86 times their 30-day average, similar to Vietnam's <.VNI> 0.85 times.
Singapore's Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> dropped 0.8 percent, in relatively active volume of 1.36 times its 30-day average. Philippines <.PSI> eased 0.2 percent.
Indonesia and Malaysia were shut for a market holiday and trading will resume on Wednesday. Asian stocks were broadly steady on Tuesday after traders took China's inflation data in stride.
Palm oil shares were among weak spots, with Malaysian palm oil futures dropping as much as 1 percent on Monday, with Singapore-listed Noble Group