Dow 6485.72 -108.72 (-1.68%)
Nasdaq 1271.97 -27.62 (-2.17%)
SP 500 668.81 -13.74 (-2.05%)
10-yr Note -4/32 3.82%
NYSE Adv 628 Dec 2441 Vol 1.12 bln
Nasdaq Adv 943 Dec 1721 Vol 1.79 bln
Weakness Remains Widespread
Coca-Cola (KO 38.58, +0.73) and McDonald's (MCD 51.37, +0.51) are providing support to the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Their gains are having limited effect, though, since decliners outnumber advancers in the Dow by more than 2-to-1.

Verizon (VZ 26.67, -1.24) is a primary laggard in the Dow. The integrated telecom giant was a leader in the prior session; its gains stemmed from an analyst upgrade.

Retailers are back under pressure. The group fell in the prior session amid sweeping selling efforts and a batch of disappointing same-store sales results for February. Dillard's (DDS 3.06, +0.06) reported last evening a loss on lower revenue, while Ann Taylor (ANN 3.48, -2.06) posted this morning worse-than-expected earnings. Retailers are currently trading 4.0% lower.