MARKET REPORT

Health, bank sectors clip stocks

Health care companies and banks drove U.S. stocks lower Thursday, pulling major indexes below their recent highs.

The afternoon slide, which erased gains from earlier in the day, came on news that some Republican senators' support for the GOP's proposed tax overhaul bill was faltering.

Small-company stocks, which would be among the biggest beneficiaries of the bill's reduction of corporate income tax rates, declined more than the rest of the market.

"The market is focused almost completely on the corporate tax reduction," said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial. "And there are still concerns that some of the key Republican senators are wavering."

The losses outweighed gains among retailers, which got a boost from a government report showing that retail sales jumped in November.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 10.84 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,652.01. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 76.77 points, or 0.3 percent, to 24,508.66. The Nasdaq shed 19.27 points, or 0.3 percent, to 6,856.53. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks gave up 17.50 points, or 1.2 percent, to 1,506.95.

Despite the declines, the indexes are all on track to finish the week with a gain.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said Thursday that he will vote against the proposed tax bill unless negotiators expand its child tax credit. The bill would increase the child tax credit to $2,000 from $1,000, but Rubio wants more. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Republican Mike Lee said the senator is undecided on the bill.

House and Senate leaders agreed on the bill in principle on Wednesday, but were still finalizing the legislation, which they plan to unveil Friday and then move it through the Senate next week.

The stock indexes had been moving higher earlier in the day after the Commerce Department said that sales at retailers and restaurants jumped 0.8 percent last month. Sales in a category that mostly includes online shopping leapt 2.5 percent, while sales at electronics stores rose 2.1 percent. Furniture store sales increased 1.2 percent.

The report helped lift several retailers. Tiffany & Co. gained $3.24, or 3.4 percent, to $99.34, while Mattel added 65 cents, or 4.2 percent, to $16.24.

Health care stocks accounted for much of the market's losses. Medical care services company DaVita shed $2.27, or 3.2 percent, to $69.03.

Shares in several banks and other financial companies also declined. Navient fell 32 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $12.62.

Pier 1 Imports' latest outlook put investors in a selling mood. The home decor company slumped 29.5 percent after it cut its forecasts and said its business has struggled in December. The stock slid $1.72 to $4.12.

Traders welcomed news that Disney agreed to buy a large part of the Murdoch family's 21st Century Fox for about $52.4 billion in stock.

The deal includes film and television studios and cable and international TV businesses. The transaction also includes approximately $13.7 billion in debt. Robert Iger will continue as Disney's chairman and CEO through the end of 2021. Disney added $2.96, or 2.8 percent, to $110.57. Fox was the biggest gainer in the S&P 500, climbing $2.13, or 6.5 percent, to $34.88.

Teva Pharmaceuticals was another big gainer. The Israeli drugmaker jumped 10.2 percent after it said that it would lay off 14,000 workers, or more than a quarter of its staff. The move is part of a global restructuring meant to salvage its ailing business. Teva's shares picked up $1.60 to $17.30.

Bond prices were little changed. The yield on the 10-year Treasury held at 2.35 percent.

Business on 12/15/2017

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