[R]7:20PM New York – U.S. stocks declined after weak same store sales in November and a fall in commodities and crude oil prices.[/R]

Of the stocks in S&P 500 index, 87 increased, 411 decreased and 2 were unchanged. Of the index stocks, 260 fell more than 3%, 32 closed above 3% and 5 surged more than 10% and 26 dropped more than 10%.

Range Resources led decliners in the S&P 500 index with a fall of 17.6% followed by losses in Peabody Energy of 17%, in General Motors of 16%, in Chesapeake Energy of 16%, in Southwestern Energy of 15.4% and in Cognizant Technology of 15.3%.

Office Depot led gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 14.8% followed by increases in CIT Group Inc of 11%, in Tiffany & Company of 11%, in Nordstrom Inc of 10% and in Lennar Corp of 9.96%.

November same store retail sales were weaker than expected. Department stores, luxury retailers and electronics stores reported sales decline of between 8% and 16%. Wal-Mart Stores sales rose 3.4%. According to survey of 37 retail chains by International Council of Shopping Centers, same store sales declined 2.7%.

Sales at Gap (GPS: chart) declined 10%, Sears Holding Corp (SHLD: chart) fell 8.7%, J.C. Penney declined (JCP: chart) 12% and Nordstrom (JWN: chart) dropped 16%.

Aeropostale, Inc (ARO: chart) added 8.1% or $1.21 to $16.15 after mall-based specialty retailer of casual apparel said third quarter revenues rose 17% to $482 million from $412.6 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 18% to $42.6 million or 63 cents a share compared to net income of $36.0 million or 48 cents a share a year ago.

AeroVironment, Inc (AVAV: chart) fell 2.3% or $0.70 to $30.21 after the maker of unmanned aircraft systems said second quarter revenues rose 22% to $65.8 million from $53.7 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter rose 75% to $9.1 million or 41 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $5.2 million or 24 cents per share a year ago.

Alloy, Inc (ALOY: chart) fell 2.3% or 10 cents after direct marketer said third quarter revenues rose 5% to $69.9 million from $66.5 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter fell 27% to $9.1 million or 67 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $12.4 million or 90 cents per share a year ago.

Accenture Limited (ACN: chart) fell 5.6% or $1.74 to $29.13 after the second-largest technology consulting company was cut to “neutral” from “buy” at Goldman Sachs Group. The tech consulting company has traded between $43.04 and $24.76 in the last one year of trading.

Adobe Systems Incorporated (ADBE: chart) lost 9.3% or $2.10 to $20.44 after the maker of design software lowered its fourth quarter sales target between $912 million and $915 million and earnings outlook between 45 cents and 46 cents a share.

Amazon.com, Inc (AMZN: chart) rose 4.7% or $2.11 to $47.32 after the world’s largest Internet retailer was upgraded by Barclays Capital. Citigroup only a day ago lowered its outlook on the company.

Cirrus Logic, Inc (CRUS: chart) dropped 31.4% or $1.33 to $2.90 after the graphics chipmaker cut its third quarter revenue forecast but maintained its gross margin and expense outlook.

Collective Brands Inc (PSS: chart) dropped $1.90 or 26.7% to $9.20 after it reported third quarter earnings of 75 cents a share compared to 39 cents a year ago. Net sales in the quarter rose $32 million to $862.7 million.

Diamond Foods, Inc (DMND: chart) lost 22% or $6.54 to $23.87 after the seller of nuts and snacks posted first quarter net income of $10.6 million or $0.64 per share compared to $8.3 million or $0.52 per share in the prior year quarter.

Dynamex Inc (DDMX: chart) fell 21% or $3.43 to $13.01 after the provider of same-day delivery services said that it will not meet first quarter estimated of revenues and earnings. The company now expects fiscal 2009 sales to be 8% to 12% below the prior year due to unexpected declines in customer shipments.

General Motors Corporation (GM: chart) slid 16.2% or 79 cents to $4.11 after The U.S. automaker along with Ford Motor and Chrysler sought $34 billion in funds from the U.S. Congress. Private economists estimated that the automakers may need between $75 billion and $125 billion. Three chief executives of the companies also showed willingness to have overnight from the government.

Intersil Corporation (ISIL: chart) plunged 14% or $1.27 to $7.81 after the semiconductor maker that the company lowered revenue target between $125 million and $135 million, a decline of 38% to 43% from the previous guidance of a decline between 20% and 25%.

Jefferies Group, Inc (JEF: chart) declined 14% or $1.66 to $9.97 after the brokerage specializing in mid-size companies is closing three overseas offices and cut staff in London, UK. The bank is likely to lose money for the fifth quarter in a row.

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc (JAS: chart) fell 7% or $1.07 to $12.72 after the U.S. fabric retailer net sales for the third quarter were $480.1 million compared with $480.2 million in the prior year. Same-store sales decreased 1.5% versus a same-store sales increase of 2.4% last year. The company lowered its 2009 earnings per share outlook to between 75 cents and 85 cents from 95 cents to $1.05.