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Stocks fall back from record levels

By WTOP Staff

STEVE ROTHWELL
AP Market Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell back from record levels on Wednesday as investors decided it was better to play it safe.

A day after the Standard & Poor’s 500 index climbed above 1,900 for the first time, investors turned their backs on stocks that would benefit more than others in a reviving economy. Consumer discretionary stocks, a group that includes luxury retailers and entertainment companies, dropped the most. Industrial and technology companies also fell, and riskier, small-company stocks resumed a sell-off after rebounding on Monday.

Instead, investors bought safe and steady stocks. Utility and telecom stocks, which investors favor when the markets get choppy, rose the most in the S&P 500. U.S. government bonds also rallied, pushing the yield on the 10-year Treasury note to its lowest in more than six months, another sign that investors were favoring safer assets.

“There’s some internal self-correction and rotation going on beneath the surface,” said Jim Russell, a regional investment director at US Bank. Russell said stocks were getting closer to being fairly valued.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 8.92 points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,888.53. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 101.47 points, or 0.6 percent, to 16,613. The Nasdaq composite fell 29.54 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4,100.63.

The Russell 2000 index, a gauge of small-company stocks, fell 18.02 points, or 1.6 percent, to 1,103.14. The index has slumped 9 percent since peaking March 4 as investors sold riskier stocks.

Bonds benefited from investor’s appetite for less risky assets.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which falls when the price of the bond rises, dropped to the lowest it’s been since October. The yield declined to 2.54 percent from 2.61 percent late Tuesday.

“People are rotating out of equities and into bonds,” said Mark Pibl, U.S. fixed income strategists at Canaccord Genuity, a wealth manager, of Wednesday’s move in the bond market.

Bonds have surged this year because inflation remains low and investors have become concerned that the economy may not grow as quickly as previously anticipated. Barclays’ index of Treasury bonds maturing in 20 years or more has gained 10.6 percent, outperforming the 2.2 percent rise for the S&P 500 stock index.

In corporate news, Fossil, a maker of watches, jewelry and accessories, was the biggest decliner in the S&P 500.

Fossil fell $11.45, or 10.3 percent, to $100 after the company said late Tuesday that its first-quarter net income fell 8 percent, despite sales gains across all its business segments. The results beat market expectations, but the company gave a weak forecast.

Deere was another company to decline after reporting earnings.

The maker of farm equipment fell $1.91, or 2 percent, to $91.70 after the company reported a decline in second-quarter net income because of weaker demand for its products. The company also cut its full-year sales forecast.

Almost all of the companies in the S&P 500 have finished reporting their first-quarter earnings. Earnings rose 3.3 percent for the period, according to S&P Capital IQ. That compares with growth of almost 8 percent in the fourth quarter.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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