NEW YORK (AFP) - US stocks turned negative amid Internet reports citing exit polls that challenger John Kerry (news - web sites) is putting in a strong early showing against President George W. Bush (news - web sites).
AFP Photo
A rally in the Dow Jones Industrial Average faded late in the session, and the blue-chip index was down 23.15 points (0.23 percent) at 10,031.24 at 2030 GMT, some 30 minutes before the close.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite gave up most of its strong rally, but clung to a gain of 1.90 points (0.10 percent) to stand at 1981.77.
"The only thing I can see is that the (Web-based) Drudge Report shows the preliminary exit polls showing Kerry within striking distance," said Jay Suskind, director of trading of Ryan, Beck and Co.
Miller Tabak equity strategist Peter Boockvar said there was a "sort of panic" as traders heard the news of Kerry's lead.
Sounds like even the chance of kerry winning is bad news.
