NEW YORK — Investors just can’t get past Europe.
NEW YORK — Investors just can’t get past Europe.
Renewed worries about the region’s debt crisis weighed on the Dow Jones industrial average on Wednesday, and held the Standard & Poor’s 500 index back from reaching an all-time high.
Investors are watching to see if Cyprus can shore up its banking system. They are also concerned about Italy, where political parties are struggling to form a new government.
The Dow fell 33.49 points to close at 14,526.16, a loss of 0.2 percent. It dropped as many as 120 points in morning trading then spent the rest of the day climbing back.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index slipped 0.92 to 1,562.85, less than three points short of its all-time high set in October 2007.
Bad news from Europe and good news from the U.S. have tossed the stock market around over the past week. Stocks slumped Monday as Cyprus scrambled to rescue its banks. They rallied Tuesday on stronger home prices and a jump in factory orders.
“There are still plenty of worries about (Europe’s) banking system,” said J.J. Kinahan, chief derivatives strategist at TD Ameritrade. “But the U.S. really is on a nice little roll.”
Kinahan said he thought the S&P 500 could make another run at its record high today.
Cyprus is preparing to reopen its banks today after a nearly two-week shutdown. An international bailout requires people with large bank balances to help pay for the rescue.
In Italy, a leading political party failed in its attempt to form a new government. The stalemate has raised fears the country will be unable to manage its deep debts. Italy has the third-largest economy of the 17 countries that use the euro.
Worries also hit Europe’s bond markets especially hard. Borrowing rates for Italy and Spain shot higher, a sign of weaker confidence in their financial health. Rates for Germany and France, two of Europe’s more stable countries, sank as traders shifted money into their bonds.
In the U.S., the Nasdaq composite inched up 4.04 points, or 0.1 percent, to 3,256.52.