February 16, 2012

US STOCKS CLOSED LOWER
U.S. stocks closed lower Wednesday as the euro hit a 1-week low on uncertainty over Greece's debt problems.The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 97 points, or 0.7%, to end at 12,781. The S&P 500 fell 7 points, or 0.5%, to 1,343. The Nasdaq dropped 16 points, or 0.5%, to 2,916.Stocks were mixed earlier in the day, as investors weighed better-than-expected European economic data and China's support for the eurozone against a lack of progress in Greece.The overall shrank for the first time in more than two years in the fourth quarter of 2011, but the 0.3% decline was not as bad as economists expected. The latest figures were helped by a smaller-than-expected drop in German GDP and surprise growth in France -- the eurozone's two largest economies.Meanwhile, a China-Europe summit ended Tuesday with promises of more support from Beijing for debt-straddled Europe."China is firm in supporting the EU side in dealing with the debt problems. We match our words with actions," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said.

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