US stocks down as 'fiscal cliff' deadline nears
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In this Wednesday, Dec 26, 2012, photo, Mr Daniel Kryger, left, and Mr Kevin Lodewick Jr, right, work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York. US stocks dipped on Thursday in the absence of a deal to avert a "fiscal cliff" crisis as an end-of-year deadline crept closer. -- PHOTO: AP
NEW YORK (AFP) - United States (US) stocks dipped on Thursday in the absence of a deal to avert a "fiscal cliff" crisis as an end-of-year deadline crept closer.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the session down 18.28 points (0.14 per cent) at 13,096.31.
The broad-market S&P 500 slipped 1.73 points (0.12 per cent) at 1,418.10 while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite shed 4.25 points (0.14 per cent) at 2,985.91.
Washington has until the end of the month to reach a compromise on how to avert a crisis that could lead to steep tax hikes and stringent budget cuts.
