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BUSINESS
Stocks fall for a third day as dollar strengthens
NEW YORK -- The stock market ended a down week with light selling as investors grew uneasy about a rising dollar and spiking demand for the safest government debt.
After two strong weeks, investors tried unsuccessfully to extend the market's rally after major stock indexes closed at 13-month highs on Tuesday. Disappointing reports on housing and worries about flagging demand at technology companies sapped strength from the market's eight-month rally.
The Dow Jones industrial average ended the week with a 0.5 percent gain but broader indexes slid.
Stocks fell for the third straight day Friday as a disappointing earnings report from computer maker Dell Inc. weighed on technology shares. The Nasdaq composite index, with a big representation of tech stocks, logged the weakest performance of the major indicators for the week.
Demand for safe havens rose Thursday and again Friday following Dell's report and as European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said the ECB plans to start reining in some of its stimulus programs.
According to preliminary calculations, the Dow slipped 14.28, or 0.1 percent, to 10,318.16. The Dow fell 119 points, or 1.1 percent, in the final three days of the week. It ended the week up 0.5 percent because of steep gains Monday following an improvement in retail sales.
