Stocks closed lower again Wednesday after impressive retail sales data lowered expectations for a March rate cut. Today's earnings reports did little to lift investor sentiment, with one notable financial firm tumbling on a top-line miss.
Ahead of the open, data from the Census Bureau showed retail sales rose 0.6% from November to December and were up 5.6% on an annual basis. The results came in higher than economists were expecting thanks to a holiday-related pop in sales at clothing and general merchandise stores.
