2010-12-30 08:56:00 PST New York, , — (12-30) 08:56 PST NEW YORK, (AP) --
U.S. stocks are edging lower, brushing aside some positive economic news on lingering concerns over the housing market.
Despite Thursday's losses, stocks are ending the year substantially higher: The S&P 500 index is up 12 percent and the Dow is up 11 percent in a year marked by big corporate profits.
The Dow Jones industrial average at midday is down 23 points, or 0.2 percent, to 11,562. The S&P 500 is falling 2, or 0.2 percent, to 1,258, while the technology-focused Nasdaq composite index is down 3, or 0.1 percent, to 2,664.
