MW: U.S. stocks slightly off lows after CPI, housing data
By Nick Godt
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks futures were off earlier lows but still pointed to weak opening after reports showed consumer prices fell more than expected in October, while the rate of new home construction fell its slowest level on record. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 131 points at 8,361, compared with 8,350 ahead of the data. Those for the S&P 500 index dipped 14 points to 852, compared with 851, while Nasdaq 100 futures were off 20 points at 1,153, compared with 1,152 before the reports. The consumer price index fell 1%. Excluding food and energy, prices declined 0.1%. Economists a 0.9% drop in the headline CPI and a 0.1% increase in the core. A separate report showed builders broke ground on homes at a 791,000 annual rate, slowing 4.5%.
