Dow edges near record, then sputters; stocks down

It came oh so close. The Dow Jones industrial average came within 15 points of its all-time high Thursday afternoon. But the momentum petered out, and the Dow and other indexes broke a two-day winning streak and closed lower. Economic data and company reports reflected an economy beating investors’ low expectations, rather than one growing like gangbusters. Impending government budget cuts also cast a pall for some investors.

By: By Christina Rexrode, Associated Press, The Jamestown Sun