U.S. Stocks Drop for Third Day Amid Auto, Retail Reports

U.S. stocks declined for a third day, as investors assessed reports on car and retail sales before economic data this week that may offer clues on when the Federal Reserve will reduce stimulus.

Ford Motor Co. lost 2.9 percent, as carmaker stocks slipped amid November sales reports. Amazon.com Inc. slid 2 percent to pace declines among retailers even as online Cyber Monday sales surged to a record. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. plunged 20 percent after quarterly revenue missed analysts’ estimates. Apple Inc. rose 2.7 percent to the highest in a year after buying data-analytics firm Topsy Labs Inc.