October 02, 2013- Stocks Regain Early Losses as Caution Over Shutdown Remains

While selling pressure has waned from earlier in the session, stocks remain mostly lower in mid-day trading on Wednesday. The ongoing government shutdown is weighing on the markets along with disappointing jobs data. The major averages have climbed well off their worst levels of the day but remain firmly in the red. The Dow is down 97.42 points or 0.6 percent at 15,094.28, the Nasdaq is down 14.74 points or 0.4 percent at 3,803.25 and the S&P 500 is down 8.44 points or 0.5 percent at 1,686.56. The weakness on Wall Street reflects growing concerns about the economic impact of a prolonged government shutdown, as lawmakers in Washington remain at an impasse over a temporary spending bill. With Republicans and Democrats thus far showing little willingness to compromise, traders are becoming less optimistic that the shutdown will be short-lived.