Weaker-than-expected results from computer maker Dell and homebuilder D.R. Horton helped push stocks lower on Friday as Wall Street headed for its third straight day of losses. After the benchmark S&P 500 index has jumped 20 percent so far this year, investors were reassessing the global economic outlook and saw few reasons to make big bets.
Dell Inc, the No 3 personal computer maker, slid 9.8 percent to $14.32 a day after it reported a 54 percent drop in third-quarter profit and sales that missed estimates. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 47.83 points, or 0.46 percent, to 10,284.61. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 6.89 points, or 0.63 percent, to 1,088.01. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 18.21 points, or 0.84 percent, to 2,138.61. D.R. Horton Inc tumbled 13.6 percent to $10.58 after the homebuilder reported a fourth-quarter loss that was wider than expected and said market conditions were "still challenging."