U.S. stocks closed modestly lower Wednesday, after paring deeper losses, as weak housing data and grim outlook from tech companies fuelled worries about the economy.  Stocks struggled to stay near the 13-month high reached the prior session as jittery investors decided to book profits.  Gold prices rose for the fourth straight session.

The Dow, which had slid as much as 77 points in the morning trading, closed down 11.11 points, or 0.1%, to 10,426.31.  The broader S&P 500 index slipped 0.52, or 0.1%, to 1,109.80, while the Nasdaq, hurt by the weakness in tech shares, fell 10.64, or 0.5%, to 2,193.14.  Bond prices fell, pushing yields higher. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 3.37% from 3.33% late Tuesday.  Crude prices advanced 44 cents to settle at $79.58 per barrel.  Volume remained light, with only 1.063 billion shares trading on the NYSE, and declining issues ahead of advancers by an 8 to 7 margin.

Technology shares were under pressure after Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) and Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM) gave grim forecasts and BMO Capital Markets noted Research in Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM), the maker of Blackberry phones, faces increased pressure as consumers opt for cheaper phones.  However, shares in Sprint Nextel(NYSE:S) continued their forward run, jumping 6.7% after the previous session’s 13% surge, on reports the company had paid off $1 billion in debt.

A weak housing report fuelled recovery concerns but shares in the sector managed to move higher after Citigroup (NYSE:C) raised Pulte Homes (NYSE:PHM) to “buy,” saying the shares are “undeservedly out of favor.” Citigroup raised its price target on the firm to to $12 from $11.  DR Horton (NYSE:DHI) rose 1.9% and Ryland (NYSE:RYL) advanced 0.8%, while Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL) fell 0.9%. 

Financials also helped stem the retreat as hedge fund operator John Paulson noted in a quarterly post to shareholders that Bank of America shares will reach $29.81 by the end of 2011.

Seven of the ten S&P500 industry sectors moved lower Wednesday.  Tech shares slipped 0.6%, followed by 0.5% declines in basic materials, industrials, and utilities, 0.4% drops in oil and gas, 0.2% retreat in consumer services, and a 0.01% fall in consumer goods.  Stemming the retreat in the sector were financials, up 0.8%, and telecommunications, up 0.2%.  In a quarterly post to shareholders, hedge fund operator John Paulson said he expects Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) shares to double over the next few years.

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