Stocks tumbled Thursday after an analyst downgrade on the chip sector and gains in the dollar. Intel, Alcoa and GE were the Dow's biggest losers.

The Dow dropped over 100 points Thursday, led by Intel, after an analyst downgrade on the chip sector. A stronger dollar also weighed on the market.

Stocks fell sharply Thursday as a jobless-claims report did little to assuage economic worries and investors pushed the dollar higher.

Williams-Sonoma Inc. on Thursday said it returned to a third-quarter profit, helped by reduced expenses and better margins.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Williams-Sonoma Inc <WSM.N> <WSM.N> posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and raised its full-year outlook on Thursday as the home-goods retailer's cost-cutting and merchandising efforts bore fruit.

Stocks were set to extend the previous session's losses at the opening bell Thursday, with European stocks dragging on sentiment as miners and food producers struggled.

The recession steered a new type of customer to Wal-Mart — deeper in the pockets and suddenly looking for bargains.