Equity markets ended lower Monday as weak existing home sales data weighed on investor sentiment. In economic news, existing home sales for July declined 0.2%, to an annual rate of 5.75 million, versus consensus of a 0.9% decline. In corporate news, Marsh & McLennan (MMC) rose 1.02% after the company agreed to buy back $800 million worth of its outstanding shares in an accelerated share repurchase transaction. The company said it will fund the transaction with proceeds from the recent sale of Putnam Investments. The buyout firms seeking to acquire Home Depot Inc.'s (HD) struggling wholesale supply unit slashed the acquisition price to $8.5 billion, 18% less than what had been agreed to a few months earlier, after the banks that had agreed to loan money to the private equity buyers balked. HD gained 1.64%. The DJIA lost 0.42%, while the Nasdaq fell 0.60%.

The stock sell-off accelerated on Tuesday after the minutes from the last Federal Reserve policy meeting failed to distract investors from the day's weak housing consumer confidence reports and continued credit market woes. In economic news, August Consumer Confidence fell to 105.0, versus the Street expectation of a 104.0 reading. In corporate news, State Street (STT) fell more than 3% on reports that the money manager has exposure to $22 billion of asset-backed commercial paper conduits. European bank Barclays (BCS) also slipped on reports that it may have exposure to several hundred million of dollars of failed debt. Medco Health Solutions (MHS), a pharmacy benefits manager, said it will buy PolyMedica (PLMD), a diabetes treatment supplier, for $1.5 billion. The DJIA lost 2.10%, while the Nasdaq dropped 2.37%.

The tech sector pushed markets higher on Wednesday on potential bargain hunting following the previous day's sell-off. In corporate news, Seagate Technology (STX) was up 3.80% after the company boosted its fiscal first quarter EPS forecast to $0.62–$0.66 from its prior view of $0.40–$0.43, above the Street at $0.43. Williams Sonoma (WSM) rose 10.59% after the company reported fiscal second quarter EPS of $0.23 on revenue of $859.4 million versus consensus of $0.16 and $862.9 million, respectively. The DJIA gained 1.90%, while the Nasdaq added 2.50%.

The Dow fell on Thursday and the broader market was mixed, as investors mulled a strong read on second quarter economic growth and continued credit market woes. In economic news, GDP came in at 4.0% for the second quarter, just under the 4.1% Wall Street prediction. Personal Consumption was reported at 1.4%, with the Street at 1.5%. Initial Jobless Claims for the week ended August 25 came in at 334,000, versus expectations of 320,000. In corporate news, shares of H&R Block (HRB) fell 1.7% after the tax-preparation-services company reported a wider fiscal first quarter loss and said it is discussing changes to its agreement to sell Option One Mortgage Corp. to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management. Sigma Designs (SIGM) rose 13% after the chipmaker reported higher quarterly sales and revenue that topped estimates. The DJIA fell 0.38%, while the Nasdaq gained 0.08%.

Equity markets finished in negative territory for the week ended Thursday, August 30, thanks to weak economic news and continued credit market woes. For the week, the DJIA, S&P, and Nasdaq lost 1.05%, 1.54%, and 0.44%, respectively.