Stocks fell sharply Monday, declining for the second consecutive session. A five-month rally ended last week after a worse-than-expected U.S. consumer-sentiment report Friday. Signs that the economy is stabilizing have lifted stocks since March, with the Standard & Poor's 500 stocks gaining 50 percent. While the housing and manufacturing sectors have begun to stabilize, a weak labor market and higher energy prices have kept consumers from spending. In economic news, the struggling manufacturing sector continues to show signs of improvement. A New York state manufacturing survey rose to 12.1 in August from a reading of negative 0.55 in July. Any positive reading reflects expansion in the sector. --MORE
