Why the Dow Fell Below 13,000 This Morning

After a holiday, you'd think the stock market would return refreshed and ready to move forward. But investors brought in the first trading day of September with a whimper, as falling manufacturing figures in the U.S. reawakened concerns that the economic recovery may not be as strong as many have hoped. Particularly troubling about the Institute for Supply Management's data was that companies hired the fewest workers since November 2009, making it clear that lack of employment opportunities will keep weighing on the labor force for some time. Add in continuing concerns about Europe, and the Dow Jones Industrials (INDEX: ^DJI) got off to a tough start, falling 86 points just after 10:45 a.m. EDT and having briefly dropped below the 13,000 level earlier in the morning.

As you'd expect on any day in which economic news is in the spotlight, economically sensitive stocks were among the biggest fallers. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) in particular was hard-hit, falling almost 3% on the drop in manufacturing activity. Caterpillar has been unusual in the extent to which it's betting on the health of the U.S. economy while making forays overseas, so it's not surprising that investors are concerned about its future if the recovery stalls out.

Conversely, stocks that benefit from a slower economy did well. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) gained more than 0.5%, again demonstrating its tendency to thrive in a tough economic environment. As shoppers lose purchasing power, Wal-Mart often ends up being the beneficiary, typically at the expense of higher-end retailers.

Finally, ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) and Chevron (NYSE: CVX) both fell more than 0.5%, as oil prices declined by about $1 per barrel. The manufacturing sector is a key proxy for overall economic activity, and with energy use directly correlated with economic growth, signs of a slower economy point to potentially lower future demand.

Look to the long run
Economic news may hit Caterpillar and other manufacturing-heavy companies in the short run. But long-term prospects are much different. Get the whole story on the machinery giant from the Fool's premium research report on Caterpillar, in which our top analysts look at the company's challenges and opportunities going forward. Click here now to learn more.