U.S. Stocks Fall While Commodities Gain, Treasuries Rise

U.S. stocks slid amid concern U.S. corporate earnings will disappoint investors and after the International Monetary Fund cut growth forecasts. Oil led commodities higher as Mideast tensions flared, while Treasuries and the dollar rose. The U.S. third-quarter earnings season begins with Alcoa Inc. (AA) today, the fifth anniversary of the S&P 500’s record close at 1,565.15. The IMF said the world economy will grow 3.3 percent this year, the slowest pace since the 2009 recession, and 3.6 percent next year. European finance ministers praised Greece’s determination to cut spending and declined to press Spain for more budget cuts at a meeting yesterday.