US stocks fall after disappointing data

Most of the US stock indices fell in early trading on Friday, after the release of disappointing economic data,

The US retail sales index fell 1.9% in December, while analysts expected the index to hold unchanged.

The core retail sales reading (excluding volatile goods) fell 2.3% last month, missing forecasts of a rise by 0.2%.

US import prices fell 0.2%, and the industrial production index fell 0.1% during the last month.

Markets are still digesting Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's statements, who hinted at the near start interest rate hikes to curb inflation.

As for stocks, Dow Jones fell 0.4% or 165 points to 35,949 as of 15:07 GMT, and S&P 500 fell 0.1% or 5 points to 4,653, while Nasdaq rose 0.2% or 33 points to 14,840 points.