US stocks fall as worries about Greek debt return

Stocks in the US halted their steady climb today after renewed concerns about Greece’s ability to pay its debts left investors questioning a global economic recovery.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 37 points after advancing for eight straight days. Broader indexes also fell. Major indexes posted gains for the week.

Markets around the world were mixed after Greece said it might need to turn to the International Monetary Fund for support if European leaders couldn’t agree on a bailout plan next week.

Worries about Greece’s ability to handle its massive debt load have set off periodic bouts of stock selling in the US and overseas over the past two months.

Investors also were cautious after India’s central bank raised interest rates to combat rising prices. That prompted concern that central banks in other countries would follow suit. Reports in the US during the week signalled that inflation was minimal.

The news out of Greece and India chilled an advance in US stocks that grew out of rising optimism about a recovery.

“The economic data so far continues to be friendly, but there are a lot of concerns out there,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at the brokerage Avalon Partners Inc. in New York. “The Greek situation is affecting the dollar.”

The dollar, regaining its appeal as a safe investment, rose against the euro and other currencies. Concerns remain that debt problems could spill over to other weak European countries like Spain and Portugal, Cardillo said.

Stocks in the US have been rising since a January-February slump. Investors are encouraged that the economy is getting better, even if it’s at a slow pace. The modest improvements have translated into a stock market that creeps higher rather than leaps as it did last year. Still, even with incremental gains some analysts warn that the market needs some pullbacks to avoid getting overheated.

According to preliminary calculations, the Dow fell 37.19, or 0.3%, to 10,741.98. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 5.93, or 0.5%, to 1,159.90. The Nasdaq composite index fell 16.87, or 0.7%, to 2,374.41.

The Dow on Thursday closed at its highest level since October 1 2008. Broader indexes are in a similar range so the retreat today wasn’t surprising. Many traders like to sell some of their stronger holdings when the market pushes to new highs.

Three stocks fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to two billion shares compared with 924 million Thursday.

For the week, the Dow rose 1.1%, the S&P 500 index advanced 0.9% and the Nasdaq rose 0.3%.