Dow Falls Slightly; National Unemployment Rate Remains Steady: Acadiana Business Index

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 20 points while the national unemployment rate remains stuck at 9.1%. Mark Lasseigne has your market report on today's Acadiana Business Index.

• Markets faced headwinds after Fitch downgraded its ratings on Italy and Spain, two of Europe’s largest economies.  The company also placed Portugal on watch for possible downgrade.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 20 points to 11,103.

• The U.S. economy added 103,000 jobs in September, more than expected, but the unemployment rate at remains stuck at 9.1%. The gains were aided by the return of 45,000 Verizon workers after a strike.

• And, U.S. consumer credit fell sharply in August, taking the biggest drop in more than a year as Americans were cautious about their finances amid a shaky economic outlook.

• Sprint Nextel spooked investors, saying it needed to raise money to roll out its own nationwide 4G wireless network.  The decision is a shift away from partner Clearwire's technology. S dropped 12% to lead the S&P 500's decliners. CLWR fell 32%.

• And, Research In Motion said it will buy Irish software firm NewBay.  The BlackBerry maker has been fighting to maintain its share of the smartphone market. RIM down 4.3%.

• Oil prices closed at $82.79 a barrel.

• And Gold settled at $1,635 an ounce.