US stocks fell on Friday after the government reported the US trade deficit widened more than expected, stoking investor fears of accelerated interest rate hikes and hurting rate-sensitive stocks. The US trade deficit widened to $58.3 billion in January, the Commerce Department said, sending the dollar down and bond yields up, which fuelled concerns about inflation and higher interest rates.
The Dow Jones industrial average was down 29.41 points, or 0.27 percent, at 10,822.10. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 4.17 points, or 0.34 percent, at 1,205.08. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index was down 10.31 points, or 0.50 percent, at 2,049.41.