Tech stocks drag indexes lower

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks fell Thursday as technology firms and small companies skidded. Investors bought highdividend stocks, which pulled the market away from steeper losses.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 5.46 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,432.46. It fell as much as 19 points in the morning. The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 14.66 points, or 0.1 percent, to 21,359.90 after it closed at a record high Wednesday. The Nasdaq composite dropped 29.39 points, or 0.5 percent, to 6,165.50. The Russell 2000 index of smallcompany stocks fell 7.49 points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,410.08.

Stocks dropped in early trading as investors reacted to rising interest rates in the U.S. while the Bank of England came unexpectedly close to raising U.K. interest rates for the first time in 10 years. Smaller, more domestically oriented companies fell as investors wondered if the expanding special counsel investigation in Washington will affect President Donald Trump’s proposed agenda of cuts in taxes and regulations.

“Investors are getting a bit antsy waiting for these progrowth policies,” said Karyn Cavanaugh of Voya Investment Strategies.

Technology companies continued their recent slump, but industrial companies rose on new signs U.S. manufacturing has steadied, and utilities and real estate companies did well.

Technology companies, which have done far better than the rest of the market this year, continued to slide. Apple shares fell 87 cents to $144.29 and Alphabet, Google’s parent company, sank $7.75 to $960.18. Symantec shed 68 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $28.41. The stocks have been slipping since Friday and the Nasdaq is on track for its second consecutive weekly loss.

Grocery chain Kroger took its biggest one-day loss since 1999. The company cut its annual profit outlook as it deals with growing competition from discount chain Aldi and from Lidl, a German chain opening its first locations in the U.S. Kroger’s stock fell $5.72, or 18.9 percent, to $24.56. Competitor Supervalu fell 30 cents, or 7.4 percent, to $3.76.

The Washington Post reported late Wednesday that the special counsel investigating Russian influence in the presidential campaign is now examining whether Trump tried to obstruct justice. Allegations of obstruction arose last month when he fired FBI Director James Comey.

Trump has touted an agenda aimed at getting the economy to grow faster. That could help smaller companies because they are more domestically focused and thus more dependent on economic growth. Those stocks made dramatic gains after Trump was elected.

The Bank of England left interest rates alone, but came closer to raising interest rates than many expected. Three of the eight members of its Monetary Policy Members wanted to raise rates by a quarter-point. A growing number of its policy makers seem to be worried about a spike in inflation that is eating into the living standards of the British.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.16 percent from 2.13 percent. Stocks that pay large dividends, including utilities, real estate investment trusts and phone companies, did better than the rest of the market.

Benchmark U.S. crude fell another 27 cents to $44.46 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, lost 8 cents to $46.92 a barrel in London.