The recent momentum in financial stocks ebbed, leaving the market at risk of snapping a three-day winning streak as Friday's closing bell neared. Investors digested mixed readings of consumer spending and sentiment, and many traders avoided big bets ahead of a packed calendar of economic releases next week. But a few corporate announcements spurred moves in basic materials— the market's strongest sector—and health care, a key laggard. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has risen nearly 60 points over the last three days, was recently off 10 points, or 0.1%, at 10601.49. The measure was hurt in part by a 1.5% decline in Pfizer after the drug manufacturer said it ended a late-stage trial for an experimental lung-cancer drug. In addition, Pfizer said two late-stage studies of its advanced breast cancer drug Sutent failed to meet their primary endpoints. The Nasdaq Composite Index was off 0.2%. The S&P 500 was down 0.3%, led by a 0.8% gain in its financial sector, which came into Friday's trading on an unprecedented 10-day winning streak.[Read more...]