MARKET SNAPSHOT: S&P 500, Dow Slump As Oil Slides; Greece Deadlocked

By Anora Mahmudova and Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

Priceline Group surges on earnings beat

NEW YORK (MarketWatch)--U.S. stocks ended Thursday's thinly-traded session mostly lower, as investors grappled with a drop in oil prices and a continued impasse between Greece and its creditors over loans.

Meanwhile, mixed economic reports stoked uncertainty about the Federal Reserve's timetable for hiking rates.

The S&P 500 (SPX) ended 2.23 points, or 0.1%, lower at 2,097.45, with six of its 10 main sectors closing lower. Technology and consumer discretionary stocks led the gains, while utilities and telecoms stocks saw biggest declines.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) dropped 44.08 points, or 0.2%, to 17,985.77, with two thirds of its 30 members finishing with losses. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc was the biggest decliner among the blue-chips, after missing earnings estimates and announcing a plan to raise wages for its employees.

The Russell 2000 (RUT) ended flat at 1,227.74, breaking a six-day winning streak. The index of small companies set an intraday record earlier, but failed to close at a fresh high.

Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) defied the general trend and closed 18.34 points, or 0.4%, higher at 4,924.70, closing higher for the seventh consecutive day.

Kim Forrest, senior investment strategist at Fort Pitt Capital, said the oil price appreciation over the past few weeks was likely unwarranted.

"There were no fundamental reasons for oil to recover from $43 to $53 a barrel, so I would argue that that was due to short-covering trades. So, when investors realize that there is a lot of oil stored, prices got hit again," Forrest said.

"Weak opening on Wall Street is not surprising, as we have been getting a lot of weak data, despite strong unemployment figures. But as interest rates and inflation keep falling, multiples keep rising. The trend lately has been that stocks open weaker and rise towards the end," she said.

Forrest also cautioned that disinflation, which is primarily due to the oil plunge, is temporary.

"Just as disinflation is temporary, multiple expansion is temporary and when stocks get too expensive they have a tendency to drop dramatically," she said.

Oil blues: Energy companies and oil-related funds were hit, as crude-oil prices (CLH5) fell nearly 2%, settling at $51.16 a barrel. Among oil-tracking indexes, the iPath Goldman Sachs Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (OIL) fell 1.1%, and the Velocity Shares 3X Long Crude ETN (UWTI) slumped 2.3%.

Brian Fenske, head of sales trading at ITG, New York-based brokerage firm, said that investors seem to have been acclimated to big swings in oil prices.

"Every time we had big swings in oil prices, stocks reacted accordingly, especially energy stocks. But it looks like investors have reduced their exposure to the energy sector and there is less of a surprise. A 3% drop is crude oil is not longer a big deal," Fenske said.

Fenske also noted that the week of the Presidents Day holiday tends to be thinly traded as many investors take this week off.

Data: Economic data on Thursday was mixed. Weekly jobless claims report was better than expected. Meanwhile, leading U.S. economic indicators edged up in January but the index pointed to some moderation in growth. Philadelphia Fed index disappointed, pointing the economy might have hit a soft patch.

In overseas news, the impasse between Greece and is creditors continued, after Germany rejected Greece's request (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/germany-rejects-greeces-loan-extension-proposal-reports-2015-02-19-791282)for a six-month loan extension agreement. The full Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers is scheduled to meet again on Friday.

'Germany's gone too far': Rejection of Greek debt plan draws quick Twitter reaction(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/germanys-rejection-of-greek-debt-plan-draws-quick-twitter-reaction-2015-02-19)

Earnings

T-Mobile US Inc.(TMUS) said it swung to a profit in the fourth quarter(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/t-mobile-us-swings-to-profit-as-revenue-surges-2015-02-19-64853617) and reported a better-than-expected increase in revenue. Shares rose 2.7%.

Hormel Foods Corp.(HRL) beat Wall Street's earnings expectations(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hormel-lifts-guidance-as-after-posting-strong-quarter-2015-02-19) and raised its 2015 adjusted earnings guidance. Shares rose 2.7%.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(WMT) reported quarterly earnings that missed Wall Street's expectations as it laid out a plan to raise employee pay. Shares fell 3.2%.

Priceline Group Inc.(PCLN) shares popped 8.5% after profit and sales beat expectations.

SolarCity Corp.(SCTY) slumped 5.8% after the solar-energy firm late Wednesday said it swung to a fourth-quarter loss of 4 cents a share, from a profit of 28 cents a share a year ago.

BJ's Restaurants Inc.(BJRI) surged 14% after reporting a sharp rise in profit(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bjs-restaurants-gains-on-stronger-than-expected-results-2015-02-18) for the fourth quarter.

For more on notable movers, read our Movers & Shakers column(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wal-mart-priceline-t-mobile-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-18).

Other markets: In Asia, Japanese stocks rose to a 15-year intraday high(http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid), while the rest of Asia closed mixed. Chinese markets were closed for the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Gold rebounded (GCJ5) after the Federal Open Market Committee minutes dashed hopes of a midyear rate increase. The yellow metal settled 0.5% higher at $1,207.60 an ounce on Comex.

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