Stocks fall as protests in Egypt intensify

Stocks fall as protests in Egypt intensify

Concerns about violent protests in Egypt are pushing the broad stock market lower.

Analysts and traders worry that political instability could spread to other countries in the Middle East and affect the global oil market.

Retail companies, however, are up nearly 1 percent after chains Gap, Limited Brands and Costco beat Wall Street's January sales expectations. Economists expected that snowstorms affecting much of the country would cut into revenue.

Among other positive economic reports, the Labor Department said fewer people applied for unemployment benefits for the first time last week.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 8 points, or 0.1 percent, to 12,034 in midday trading. The S&P 500 fell 3 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,301. The Nasdaq composite fell 3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,746