US stocks fell in morning trade today after a key report showed that consumers were less confident than expected about the US economy.
The Conference Board said US consumer confidence for July fell to 76.6 compared with a reading of 83.5 in June. The July reading was expected to be 85.0.
"Consumer confidence is very bad and very troubling," said Mr Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer at First Albany Corp.
"The numbers are weaker than expected, and secondly there is a very sharp decline in consumer expectations. Expectations are a leading indicator of the economy, they tell us where we are rather than where we have been."
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 69.68 points, or 0.75 per cent, to 9,196.83. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index slipped 8.42 points, or 0.84 per cent, to 988.10. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 14.61 points, or 0.84 per cent, to 1,720.75.
