IBD'S TOP 10.(A)

Stocks Continue Modest Retreat

1Extending a sell-off that began Tues. afternoon, the Nasdaq and mid-cap S&P 400 fell 0.4%, the S&P 500 0.5% and the small-cap 600 0.8%. GM helped curb intraday losses. Builders and machinery were the biggest losers. Media and energy stocks gained. The 10-year Treasury yield rose 3 basis points to 4.52%. More on this page, B2

Inventory Increase Depresses Oil

2Jan. crude fell 73 cents to $59.21 a barrel. Stockpiles of crude, gasoline and distillates -- which include heating oil -- all rose 2.7 mil barrels last week, all better than expected. Crude supplies now are 11% more than a year ago. Distillate stocks are up 6% …