At midday in New York on Tuesday, Wall Street was mixed.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.1 percent lower to 13,745.24 after falling even more earlier in the session, and the S&P 500 had dropped 0.34 percent to 1,512.61, but the Nasdaq Composite was 0.04 percent higher to 2,668.9.
The Conference Board reported that consumer confidence was at its lowest point in two years in September, while the National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales were lower in August than they had been in five years.
House builder Lennar (NYSE: LEN) reported that revenues fell 44 percent in the third quarter and it lost $513.9 million in the quarter, sending shares $1 lower to $23.18.
The retail sector also saw declines after department store Target (NYSE: TGT) and home improvement retailer Lowe’s (NYSE: LOW) both reduced their full-year sales forecasts due to concerns about how much money shoppers will spend over the holidays.
Lowe’s was down $1.56 to $29.00, while Target was $2.54 lower to $61.77.
The declines came in the wake of a report last week from the National Retail Federation that said holiday sales will likely rise 4 percent this year, below the 10-year average of 4.8 percent.
In the pharmaceuticals sector, Bayer (FWB: BAY; NYSE: BAY; TYO: 4863) said it will delist its shares from the New York Stock Exchange, effective Thursday, and will instead offer its American depository shares on the over-the-counter market.
The drug maker said the move will save it over $21 million per year.
It will also deregister with the Securities and Exchange Commission, removing the requirement that it share its results and statements in the US.