Shares of Massey Energy Co. retreated the most on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index on Wednesday and helped tug the index to a lower close.
The S&P 500 dropped 23.39 points, or 1.8 percent, to 1,261.52.
Shares of Massey Energy slipped $17.47, or 18.9 percent, to $74.87, as coal prices declined in Europe and the U.S. Coal maker Consol Energy Inc. fell $16.38, or 14.6 percent, to $95.57.
Shares of General Motors Corp. declined $1.77, or 15.1 percent, to $9.98. The stock closed below $10 for the first time in more than half a century, as analysts raised concern about the company's cash needs.
Gainers were led by Apollo Group Inc., which surged $8.52, or 18.4 percent, to $54.78, after the for-profit education company posted a better-than-expected quarter.
Shares of Family Dollar Stores Inc. added $1.66, or 8.2 percent, to $21.95. The discount-store operator raised its fourth-quarter and full-year outlook.
Shares of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. rose $1.40, or 6.7 percent, to $22.36.
Terms & Conditions
RSS Headlines
Fool UK