Stocks Drop on Disappointing Data; Caterpillar Slides 4%
May 31, 2012 at 11:23 AM EDT
The government released a raft of economic data Thursday morning and much of it was downright ugly, sending stocks lower in early trading. U.S. index futures had been pointing upward before the releases, but began to shed those gains shortly after 8:30 a.m., and fell after the opening bell. The Dow was recently down 87 [...]