U.S. Stocks Fall, Bonds Gain on Growth Concern; Oil Jumps

U.S. stocks fell, capping the worst month in a year, while Treasuries led a rally in bonds as data showed a slowdown in American economic growth and a decline in euro-area consumer prices. Gold jumped, and crude had its biggest advance since 2012.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.3 percent at 4 p.m. in New York, capping a 3.1 percent drop in January. The gauge briefly erased losses before selling accelerated in the final half hour of trading. West Texas Intermediate settled 8.3 percent higher to pare a seventh monthly retreat. Treasury 10-year yields slid nine basis points to 1.66 percent, while German 10-year bund yields declined as much as six basis points to a record-low 0.298 percent. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index retreated