U.S. stocks shift course lower as energy and tech weigh

Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:01:09 -0500
U.S. stocks shift course lower as energy and tech weigh

U.S. stocks tilt lower, erasing an earlier advance, as energy and
technology shares drag down the overall market, offsetting cheer over
the government's plan to help revive the economy.

FED TO BOLSTER CONSUMER LENDING TO THE TUNE OF UP TO $800 BILLION

In a further bid to stimulate lending, the Federal Reserve and the
Treasury announce new steps to lower borrowing costs for consumers and
home buyers, to the tune of up to $800 billion.

ECONOMIC REPORT: HOME PRICES OFF RECORD 17.4% IN PAST YEAR, CASE-SHILLER SAYS

Home prices in 20 major U.S. cities drop by 1.8% in September from the
prior month and by a record 17.4% on a year-over-year basis, according
to the Case-Shiller data compiled by Standard & Poor's.

METALS STOCKS: GOLD GIVES UP GAINS ON FALLING CRUDE, STOCK MARKETS

Gold futures give up earlier gains and move lower, as crude-oil prices
tumble and as U.S. equity markets erase gains.

BHP BILLITON SCRAPS $66 BILLION RIO TINTO BID

BHP Billiton on Tuesday scrapped its roughly $66 billion hostile bid
for mining rival Rio Tinto, saying the deal is no longer in the best
interests of shareholders after the global economic downturn led to a
slump in commodity prices.