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* Indexes fall: Dow 1.81 pct, S&P 1.86 pct, Nasdaq 2.28 pct
* Consumer confidence posts sharpest decline in over 3 yrs
* Energy index biggest loser among 11 S&P sectors (Updates to early afternoon)
By Medha Singh
Dec 27 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell broadly on Thursday,giving back a chunk of the previous day's big rally, as freshconcerns arose about the U.S. economy with a measure of consumerconfidence dropping by the most in more than three years.
The pullback on the heels of Wednesday's huge advance, whichfeatured the Dow Jones Industrial Average's first-ever 1,000point daily surge, was led by the technology stalwarts that havealso been under some of the greatest selling pressure since latesummer.
Apple IncAAPL.O , Amazon.com IncAMZN.O and Alphabet IncGOOGL.O all fell by 3 percent or more.
In a sign some consumers are getting nervous about theeconomy amid volatile stock markets and the partial shutdown ofthe U.S. government, the Conference Board's consumer confidenceindex dropped to a five-month low in December and came in weakerthan even the lowest economists' estimate in a Reuters poll. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N1YW089
"While retail sales have been very strong, consumerconfidence has ticked down here and that could continue unlessthere is progress made on trade, in the U.S. budget battle andcertainly central bank's policy," said Bryan Reilly, a managingdirector in the Boston office of CIBC Private Wealth Management.
All the 11 major S&P sectors were lower with energy .SPNY ,technology .SPLRCT , consumer discretionary .SPLRCD andcommunication services .SPLRCS sectors shedding more than 2percent each.
All the 30 components of the Dow .DJI were in the red.
At 12:40 p.m. ET the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI wasdown 413.17 points, or 1.81 percent, at 22,465.28, the S&P 500 .SPX was down 45.92 points, or 1.86 percent, at 2,421.78 andthe Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was down 149.15 points, or 2.28percent, at 6,405.21.
At current levels, the three indexes are down more than 12percent for the month, their sharpest decline since the 2008financial crisis.
"It's been a very difficult environment. The markets haven'treally been trading on fundamentals very much. With lowliquidity and trading models responsible for the majority oftrades in recent days, it might not be until the new year tillyou see greater stability," said Reilly.
President Donald Trump said he was prepared to wait as longas it takes to get funding for his U.S.-Mexico border wall, ademand that has triggered a partial shutdown of the federalgovernment that is now in its fifth day. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nS0N1YG00P
Separately, Reuters reported Trump is considering anexecutive order in the new year that would bar U.S. companiesfrom using telecommunications equipment made by China'sHuaweiTechnologies Co LtdHWT.UL and ZTE Corp000063.SZ . urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N1YW030
This comes as China and the United States plan face-to-faceconsultations to resolve their trade dispute, which has rockedstock markets, along with concerns over slowing economic growthand rising interest rates.
Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 3.93-to-1 ratioon the NYSE and a 2.70-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.
The S&P index recorded no new 52-week highs and two newlows, while the Nasdaq recorded three new highs and 161 newlows. (Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silvaand Shounak Dasgupta) ((Medha.Singh@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1646 223 8780,outside U.S. +91 80 6749 1130; Reuters Messaging:medha.singh.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
