US stocks ended Monday with losses on fresh concerns that the current market levels are overblown. A rebound in dollar against key foreign currencies sent commodities lower and financials fell as reports emerged the federal government may require Bank of America to raise more capital. The group took another beating as influential analyst Richard Bove trimmed his ratings on a number of regional banks. Homebuilders also led the market lower on reports the first time homebuilders’ tax credit is unlikely to be extended.
The Dow Jones industrial average oscillated within a 200-point range and briefly touched the 10,000 mark, before some profit taking saw the index squandering the earlier advance and ending the day 104-points lower. Technology shares, only sector to have recorded gains last week, fell out of favor and slid along with the broader market. The technology-laden Nasdaq retreated 12.62 points, or 0.6%, to 2,141.63. The CBOE Vix, the market’s measure of volatility, witnessed its sharpest one-day percentage increase in a month.
As risk-appetite fell and investors turned to safer bets, the greenback moved further from last Wednesday’s 14-month low of $74.94, up 0.7% against a basket of currencies. Weak demand prospects sent crude prices off $1.82 to a close of $78.68.
The S&P500 witnessed weakness in all ten industry groups, but notable laggards were financials (-2.3%), basic materials (-2.0%), and oil and gas (-1.6%). A moderate 1.39 billion shares traded on the NYSE, sharply lower than last year’s average of 2.28 billion, as declining issues beat those that advanced in price by a three-to-one margin.
Financials came under the hammer as Dick Bove of Rochdale Securities lowered ratings on a number of regional banks, including Fifth Third Bancorp (NYSE:FITB), Sun Trust Banks (NYSE:STI), and US Bancorp (NYSE:USB). To add to the weakness, a Saturday WSJ article indicated towards disagreements between Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) and the government over capital requirements before the firm could repay its bailout funds. Rumors surfaced the company might need to sell shares to repay the funds. Furthermore, FDIC Chief Sheila Bair cautioned banks still face “serious challenges.”
Shares in homebuilders also witnessed weakness as the government pondered over whether to extend or possibly wind down the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit due to expire November 31. Concerned about the state of housing minus the catalyst, investors sold off homebuilders’ shares, sending Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL) down 4.2%, Lennar (NYSE:LEN) down 4%, and Beazer Homes (NYSE:BZH) off 4.4%.
