Stocks mostly lower on tepid US economic growth

Stocks ease after US growth comes in weaker than economists anticipated; Amazon, Expedia slump

4/26/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Tuesday, April 16, 2013, photo, Specialist Michael O'Mara, left, and trader Fred Demarco work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. World stock markets fell today after Japan faced an unwelcome drop in consumer prices.
In this Tuesday, April 16, 2013, photo, Specialist Michael O'Mara, left, and trader Fred Demarco work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. World stock markets fell today after Japan faced an unwelcome drop in consumer prices.

NEW YORK — Stocks were mostly lower at midday following weak earnings from Amazon.com, Expedia, and other companies and a report of slower growth in the U.S. economy than economists were expecting.

The Dow Jones industrial average was flat at 14,700 as of noon today.

The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell six points to 1,579, a decline of 0.4 percent. The Nasdaq composite was down 16 points at 3,273, a loss of 0.5 percent.

Stocks are still up for the month, but the gains are far below those made in the first three months of the year.

Amazon.com fell 7 percent after the company said it may report an operating loss in the second quarter. Expedia fell 8.8 percent after the online travel company’s costs rose.