Abreast of the market: Industrials fell 11.35 to 3518.85 as poor economic performance data end rally
NEW YORK -- A flurry of weak economic data helped to end a three-day stock market rally that had taken its cue from sharply lower interest rates.</br></br>Nearly every sector came under pressure as a series of economic reports reignited worries that the economy continues to falter. The reports showed a decrease in new home sales last month, a downturn in consumer confidence, and a drop in the index of May's leading economic indicators. Economists had expected higher readings for all of the figures.</br></br>The Dow Jones Industrial Average managed to make a slight comeback near the close, which traders attributed to endof-the-quarter mark ups. The industrials fell 11.35 points, or 0.32%, to 3518.85, after sliding about 24 points to their lowest levels of the day in late trading.</br></br>Retreating Big Board stocks edged out advancers, 979 to 970, on hefty volume of 272,987,540, up from the 240,434,910 shares that changed hands Monday.</br></br>"The economic numbers have been showing sluggish growth, and that's a concern," said David Butler, head of equity trading at Kemper Financial Services. "But lower interest rates are still a factor, which basically means there's no place else to go except for equities."