US stocks declined Wednesday as a fall in commodity prices sparked a selloff in the energy and materials sectors and as a falling euro and high Italian bond yields kept Europe's debt crisis in focus. Eight of 10 S&P 500 sectors were down, with energy leading the way. The S&P 500 fell below its 50-day moving average, which may be a portent of more losses.
The Dow Jones industrial average was down 102.70 points, or 0.86 percent, at 11,852.24. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index took off 10.52 points, or 0.86 percent, at 1,215.21. The Nasdaq Composite Index slid 39.64 points, or 1.54 percent, at 2,539.63. The S&P energy sector fell 2.5 percent as US crude oil prices slid 4.2 percent to hover near $96 a barrel.