Stocks fell on Thursday, extending losses on weakness in technology and industrial names.

The S&P information technology sector <.GSPT> fell 1.2 percent, with Apple Inc off 3.2 percent to $589.06 and EMC Corp down 3.6 percent to $28.08, while industrial names <.GSPI> lost 1.1 percent.

Equities fell earlier in the session after data showed sales of existing homes fell unexpectedly last month, while a measure of factory activity in the mid-Atlantic region was below forecasts.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 76.41 points, or 0.59 percent, at 12,956.34. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 8.16 points, or 0.59 percent, at 1,376.98. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 20.01 points, or 0.66 percent, at 3,011.44.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica)

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