Stocks Headed Lower as Oil Rises to $100 a Barrel

NEW YORK (AP) – Stocks are headed lower and oil is rising above
$100 a barrel as the violence in Libya intensifies.

Army units loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi struck back at
protesters in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, and attacked a mosque
outside of the city where many anti-government demonstrators had
taken refuge.

The clashes sent oil up to $101.27 a barrel Thursday. Traders
are worried the revolt could threaten Libya’s oil production and
spread to other countries in the region.

In economic news, investors will get reports on weekly
applications for unemployment and new home sales.

Ahead of the opening, Dow Jones industrial futures are down 51,
or 0.4 percent, at 12,043. Standard & Poor’s 500 futures are down
7, or 0.6 percent, at 1,298. Nasdaq 100 index futures are down 13,
or 0.6 percent, at 2,291.