Stocks Ended Lower after Weak Economic Data

U.S. stocks ended slightly lower on Thursday as investors grappled with weaker-than-expected economic reports, mixed earnings results and deals news. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 23.72 points, or 0.13%, to 17,755.80. The S&P 500 was off 0.94 points, or 0.04%, to 2,089.41. The Nasdaq Composite was down 21.42 points, or 0.42%, to 5,074.27.

LinkedIn Corp. reported a wider third-quarter loss. It posted a loss of $40.5 million, or 31 cents a share, compared with a loss of $4.3 million, or 3 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier. Revenue rose 37% to $779.6 million, from $568.3 million in the year-ago period.

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) released a weak outlook for the fiscal first quarter. It reported its fiscal fourth- quarter earnings rose to $652.5 million, or 43 cents a share, from $587.9 million, or 39 cents a share, a year earlier.

Boeing Co (BA.N) landed orders from two foreign carriers for its high-tech 787 Dreamliner on Thursday worth more than $3.5 billion at list prices.

The oil sector is slipping into the red after years of fat profits as the steep slump in oil prices shows little sign of ending, with this quarter shaping up to be the worst since the downturn started.