U.S. stocks move lower in quiet trade

Crude oil slump pulls down the energy sector

8/12/2014

NEW YORK — Stocks are slipping in midday trading following two days of gains.

Investors focused on problems in Ukraine and Iraq.

Energy stocks fell more than the rest of the market, dragged down by a decline in the price of crude oil.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell four points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,932 as of midday today.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 28 points, or 0.2 percent, to 16,541. Chevron and Exxon Mobil were among the biggest decliners in the Dow.

The Nasdaq composite fell 13 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,388.

U.S. government bond prices were little changed. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held steady at 2.43 percent.