Stocks ending day with small losses after another earthquake hits Japan

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ending the day with small losses after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Japan.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell as many as 96 points in morning trading, but recovered most of its losses after a tsunami warning was lifted.

The Dow fell 17 points, or 0.1 percent, to 12,409. The Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 2, or 0.2 percent, to 1,334. The Nasdaq composite fell 4, or 0.1 percent, to 2,796.

In the U.S., economic news was mostly positive. The Commerce Department said the number of people applying for new unemployment benefits fell for the third time in four weeks. The decline in applications suggests layoffs are slowing.

Three stocks fell for every two that rose on the New York Stock Exchange. Trading volume was 4 billion.