US Stocks: Tuesday's unofficial close

Stocks fell on Tuesday as giant retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc declined on disappointing quarterly sales while news of a sharp rise in October producer prices fanned inflation fears. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, posted a higher quarterly profit and raised its full-year profit outlook but said sales rose just 9.7 percent - its slowest growth rate in more than 18 months. Shares of Wal-Mart fell 1.3 percent to $56.95, pressuring other retail stocks.
The Dow Jones industrial average was down 53.43 points, or 0.51 percent, at 10,496.81. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 7.26 points, or 0.61 percent, at 1,176.55. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index was down 16.25 points, or 0.78 percent, at 2,077.84.