The stock market had its worst week since August as investors dumped retail stocks over worries that the holiday season will be a dud. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 202 points, or 1.2%, to 17,245 Friday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gave up 22 points, or 1.1%, to 2,023. The Nasdaq composite fell 77 points, or 1.5%, to 4,927.
The dismal week that ended Friday broke a six-week stretch of gains for the market. Oil prices also continued to slump. Nordstrom disappointed investors with a weak profit report and outlook. JC Penney, GameStop, and Ross Stores also took a beating. Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.78%. (More Dow Jones stories.)