Brands Retreat

Financial brands Bank of America and Citigroup led the downswing in light trading volume Wednesday. Stocks sold off amid concern that euro zone debt woes could affect U.S. bank ratings. Crude oil added $3.22 to finish at $102.59 a barrel. On another note, the consumer price index fell 0.1% in October. Economists expected the level to remain unchanged after increasing 0.3% in September. Discounting food and energy, inflation rose 0.1%, matching expectations. Looking ahead, Sears and the Gap are set to release earnings details tomorrow.

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