Stock market news today: Oil falls 5%, small caps sink as market mood sours

News Snapshot:

US stocks were mixed on Thursday after a roaring rally in the middle of the week as investors digested news from corporate America that consumer spending may be set for a slowdown and oil prices hit a four-month low. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) dropped about almost 0.3% while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) and the benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) teetered on both sides of the flat line. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate crude oil (CL=F) declined nearly 5% to just below $73 a barrel, its lowest level in nearly four months. Stocks have climbed as investors became more convinced that...