U.S. stocks fell, limiting the biggest quarterly advance for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index since 1998, after consumer confidence unexpectedly slid and delinquencies on the least-risky mortgages more than doubled.

Caterpillar Inc., Expedia Inc. and Starbucks Corp. lost at least 4.8 percent after the Conference Board’s sentiment index slumped to 49.3, six points below the average economist forecast. Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped as government data showed prime mortgages 60 days or more past due climbed to 2.9 percent in the first quarter from 1.1 percent at the same time last year.

The S&P 500 lost 0.9 percent to 919.32 at 4:05 p.m. in New York. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 82.38 points, or 1 percent, to 8,447. About two stocks dropped for each that rose on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares in Europe retreated, while Asian shares rallied.

(Bloomberg.com)