News Summary: Stocks close lower for fifth day

Published July 11, 2012 9:25pm ET



DOW DOWN: The Dow Jones industrial average closed lower for the fifth straight day as worries about sluggish economic growth weighed on markets. Minutes from a Federal Reserve meeting highlighted concerns about the U.S. economy.

FIVE-DAY SLUMP: It was the fifth straight day of losses for both the Dow and the S&P 500 index. That’s their worst stretch since a six-day losing streak that ran through May 18.

OIL BOUNCES BACK: Exxon Mobil, Chevron and other energy companies rose, following oil prices higher. The price of crude oil jumped $1.90, to $85.81 a barrel, after the government reported that U.S. crude supplies fell for a second week straight, a sign that demand for energy may be increasing.