Tech Stocks Drag Markets Lower

Stocks are ending modestly lower on Wall Street, dragged down by declines in technology and materials companies, the AP reports. Apple and Microsoft each fell about 0.5% Thursday. The technology sector is still far outpacing the rest of the market this year. Retailers also did poorly. Supermarket chain Kroger plunged 19% after reporting weak sales and cutting its profit forecast. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 5 points, or 0.2%, to 2,432. The Dow Jones industrial average gave up 14 points, or 0.1%, to 21,359. The Nasdaq composite, which is heavily weighted with technology companies, gave up 29 points, or 0.5%, to 6,165. (More stock market stories.)