US STOCKS-Wall Street lower after consumer sentiment data

                                

                                
 * Consumer sentiment ticks up in Aug
                                
 * Retail sales up in July but softness lingers
                                
 * Indexes off: Dow by 0.2 pct, S&P 0.3 pct, Nasdaq 0.6 pct
                                
 * For up-to-the-minute market news see [STXNEWS/US]
  (Updates with consumer sentiment data)
                                
 By Angela Moon
                                
 NEW YORK, Aug 13 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks edged lower on
Friday, building on three days of losses as data showed
consumers saw little improvement ahead for the economy.
                                
 U.S. retail sales rebounded in July but showed hints of
lingering economic softness, while consumer sentiment appeared
to have stabilized in August, but were still nervous about the
near term. For details, see [ID:nN13180040] and
[ID:nN13177086]
                                
 The reports indicated the economy has slowed considerably
in recent months, but the numbers were firm enough to ease
fears of a renewed downturn.
                                
 "Consumer sentiment drifted a bit higher here, but the
market is still convinced that there is a risk of a further
economic slowdown. It suggests that the number may stay
sluggish for the important back-to-school month, further giving
a reason for the bears to push the market lower," said Jeff
Kleintop, chief market strategist at LPL Financial in Boston.
                                
 The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 17.48 points,
or 0.17 percent, at 10,302.47. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index
<.SPX> dipped 3.13 points, or 0.29 percent, at 1,080.48. The
Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 12.91 points, or 0.59
percent, at 2,177.36.
                                
 If the indexes close lower on Friday, it could be the
biggest weekly decline in six weeks.
                                
 J.C. Penney Co Inc <JCP.N> fell 2.2 percent to $20.34 after
the retailer reported stronger-than-expected quarterly
earnings, but forecast profits below estimates.
                                
 Pressuring the Nasdaq, Google Inc <GOOG.O> was down 1
percent at $486.82, and Research in Motion Ltd's
<RIMM.O><RIM.TO> dropped 1.3 percent to $53.40.
                                
 India may shut down Google's messaging services over
security concerns, the Financial Times reported, and the
government has threatened a similar crackdown on Research in
Motion Ltd's <RIMM.O><RIM.TO> BlackBerry services.
[ID:nSGE67C00W]
                                
 Separately, Google was sued by Oracle Corp <ORCL.O> over
alleged patent and copyright infringement related to its
popular Android smartphone software. [ID:nN12178481].
                                
 Eli Lilly and Co <LLY.N> dropped 3 percent to $35.49 after
the drugmaker lost a patent case that cleared the way for
generic competition for Strattera, its attention deficit
disorder drug. [ID:nN12148299]
                                
 Rambus Inc <RMBS.O> was up 5.5 percent at $19.01 and Nvidia
Corp <NVDA.O> rose 4 percent to $9.32. Chip designer Rambus
granted patent licenses to graphic chipmaker Nvidia Corp,
raising hopes that a lengthy legal battle was near an end.
[ID:nN13180375]
  (Reporting by Angela Moon; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)