US stocks: Shares fall for 3rd day on Middle East fighting

NEW YORK - US stocks fell for the third straight day today as a fiercely developing conflict in the Middle East drove oil prices to a record, sending investors fleeing from stocks in favour of safer assets.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 99.25 points, or 0.92 per cent, to end unofficially at 10,747.04. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 5.78 points, or 0.47 per cent, to finish unofficially at 1,236.51. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 16.36 points, or 0.80 per cent, to close unofficially at 2,037.75.

For the week, the Dow fell 3 per cent, while the S&P 500 lost 2 per cent and the Nasdaq shed 4 per cent.

- REUTERS