US stocks mixed on profit-taking

Disappointing retail sales figures and an unexpected jump in unemployment claims prompted UA investors to take profits today, leaving stocks mixed despite another big drop in oil prices.

One day after crude oil futures posted their biggest decline since September 2001, oil prices again fell sharply. A barrel of light crude for January delivery settled at 43.25, down 2.24, on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude prices fell as low as 42.50 during the session.