Dow Ends Day Down 248

Stocks fell on Wall Street as banks and industrial companies posted sizable losses, the AP reports. Citigroup lost 1.9% Wednesday and aerospace giant Boeing gave up 2.5%. Banks fell along with bond yields and industrial companies weakened as European leaders warned of the risk of escalating trade tensions. Department stores and other retailers fell after the Commerce Department said retail sales declined in February. Kroger lost 2.4%. Signet Jewelers plunged 20% after giving weak a forecast. The S&P 500 fell 15 points, or 0.6%, to 2,749. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 248 points, or 1%, to 24,758. The Nasdaq composite fell 14 points, or 0.2%, to 7,496. (More stock market stories.)