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Fed Doubts Drive Stocks Down

Consumer confidence report, Procter & Gamble forecasts are drags on markets

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 30, 2007 3:51 PM CDT

(Newser) – Stocks closed down today as confidence that the Fed will cut interest rates tomorrow faded. The Journal reported that policymakers are considering no cut at all, meaning borrowing costs may stay high. The Dow slipped 77.79 to 13,792.47, the S&P 500 was down 9.96 to 1,531.02, and the Nasdaq fell 0.73 to 2,816.71.

The markets were in "wait-and-see mode," said one analyst, as Procter & Gamble issued a bleak profit forecast, consumer confidence sank to a 2-year low, and home prices continued to tumble. Energy stocks fell for the first time in 6 days as oil retreated from a record high, Bloomberg reports—but still closed above $90 a barrel.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is seen at the International Monetary Fund Headquarters in Washington in this Oct. 20, 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is seen at the International Monetary Fund Headquarters in Washington in this Oct. 20, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)   (Associated Press)
Stanley O'Neal, Chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch & Co. is seen in New York in this Nov. 1, 2006 file photo. Merrill Lynch, the world's largest brokerage, said Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007 its embattled Chief Executive will retire, effective immediately. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano, file)
Stanley O'Neal, Chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch & Co. is seen in New York in this Nov. 1, 2006 file photo. Merrill Lynch, the world's largest brokerage, said Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007 its embattled Chief...   (Associated Press)
The Procter & Gamble Co. headquarters building is shown, Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, in Cincinnati.  Consumer products maker Procter & Gamble Co. said Tuesday its first-quarter profit rose 14 percent, but said rising commodity, energy and product investment costs will hurt its second-quarter margins. Its shares sank more than 3...
The Procter & Gamble Co. headquarters building is shown, Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, in Cincinnati. Consumer products maker Procter & Gamble Co. said Tuesday its first-quarter profit rose 14 percent, but...   (Associated Press)
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is shown in this 2006 file photo in Chicago. A deepening housing slump probably will be a significant drag on economic growth into next year and it will take time for Wall Street to fully recover from a painful credit crisis, Bernanke warned Monday.  (AP...
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is shown in this 2006 file photo in Chicago. A deepening housing slump probably will be a "significant drag" on economic growth into next year and it will take time...   (Associated Press)
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