NEW YORK, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. stocks extended losses for the fourth straight day on Friday after mixed reports showed U. S. retail sales gained less than expected while consumer sentiment climbed higher.

According to the Commerce Department, retail sales rose 0.4 percent and sales excluding autos climbed 0.2 percent. The broad declines outside of auto and gas sales offered more evidence that the economy was slowing.

July's increase followed two months of straight losses. However, it was still lower than economists' forecast of a 0.5-percent gain.

The market was under pressure even as a separate report showed consumer confidence rose in August.

The Thomson Reuters/ University of Michigan preliminary index of consumer sentiment climbed to 69.6 from a reading of 67.8 in July, showing a slump in consumer spending is unlikely.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 16.80 points, or 0.16 percent, to 10,303.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 4.36 points, or 0.40 percent, to 1,079.25 and the Nasdaq was down 16.79 points, or 0.77 percent, to 2,173.48.

Crude prices continued slipping on Friday to the lowest level in a month on renewed economic concerns. Light, sweet crude for September delivery fell 35 cents to settle at 75.39 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In London, Brent crude was down 29 cents at 75.11 dollars a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

On the currency front, the euro fell to 1.2755 dollars from 1. 2824 dollars in late New York trading.
( yan)