Business news for Thu, 27 Dec 2007 & with words data+lower. 6 news.

Stocks opened lower, with the death of Pakistan's Bhutto and weak durable-goods data unsettling investors. Markets were higher in Asia, but European markets shed earlier gains.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - Retail shares traded lower Thursday, tracking the broader markets, after durable-goods data didn't rise as much as forecast. The S&P Retail Index fell 0.6% to 411.82. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5%. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. shares fell 0.6% after the world's largest retailer said it was made aware of some stores having issues with processing gift cards due to an error with a third-party verifier's systems. Wal-Mart said that had led it and other retailers to experience delays in gift card verifications.

Reuters - Stocks opened lower on Thursday after a weaker-than-expected reading on durable goods data, combined with the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, dimmed the outlook for economic growth and geopolitical security.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks opened lower on Thursday after a weaker-than-expected reading on durable goods data, combined with the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, dimmed the outlook for economic growth and geopolitical security.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks opened lower on Thursday, as news of the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto unsettled the markets, overshadowing what were disappointing durable-goods data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 53 points, or 0.4%, to 13,495. The S&P 500 Index dropped 6.17 points, or 0.4%, to 1,491 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 9.12 points, or 0.3%, to 2,715.

Stocks appeared set to open sharply lower Thursday on weak economic data and a bearish report on Citi.