Stocks may stumble on dollar and data

U.S. stocks could face a challenge next week to bounce back from Friday's post-Thanksgiving drop unless there's some tempering of the dollar's weakness that sparked the sell-off. Early signs of how the U.S. holiday shopping season... See more » U.S. stocks could face a challenge next week to bounce back from Friday's post-Thanksgiving drop unless there's some tempering of the dollar's weakness that sparked the sell-off. Early signs of how the U.S. holiday shopping season is shaping up also will drive the week's activity, as will a full agenda of economic data. Investors will review readings on economic growth, inflation, consumer confidence and manufacturing activity, among other data. The week will wrap up with the latest sales figures from the struggling U.S. auto sector. "We may be entering a period of trouble for stocks and a sharp drop in the dollar may provide more excuses to sell," said Michael Metz, chief investment strategist at Oppenheimer & Co. in New York. See less »

U.S. stocks fell on Friday, retreating from highs reached earlier in the week, on concern that U.S. shares became less attractive to foreigners after a steep drop in the U.S. dollar. On Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average...