US markets end lower; Dow down 42 points

In US markets, stocks took a trip down south despite plunging commodity prices. Weakness in financials like Wachovia and Freddie Mac, and energy stocks like Exxon Mobil were seen as key reasons there. On the upside though, consumer stocks showed some strength with Pfizer and Coca Cola leading the charge. Motorola made waves with a rise of almost 12% in the stock price following its last week’s earnings report.

Crude slipped USD 3.69, or 2.9%, to settle at USD 121.41 a barrel on the NYMEX.

The Dow Jplunged 42.17 points, or 0.37%, to 11,284.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 11.30 points, or 0.90%, to 1,249.01, and the Nasdaq composite index slipped 25.40 points, or 1.10%, to 2,285.56.