Traders Daniel Trimble, left, and Christopher Morie on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday, April 29, 2013. Japan's stock market jumped Monday May 13, 2013 to its highest close in more than five years after global finance leaders gave a seal of approval to the country's stimulus program and refrained from criticizing its weakening effect on the yen. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Traders Daniel Trimble, left, and Christopher Morie on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday, April 29, 2013. Japan's stock market jumped Monday May 13, 2013 to its highest close in more than five years after global finance leaders gave a seal of approval to the country's stimulus program and refrained from criticizing its weakening effect on the yen. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
NEW YORK (AP) ? A record-breaking rally in stocks stalled Monday as investors assessed whether stock valuations were overstating the improvement in the economy.
Stocks started the day lower even after the government reported that Americans increased spending at retailers last month. The spending rebounded from March, suggesting that consumers may boost economic growth in the current quarter ending June 30.
"What we have seen is a huge rally, and there aren't any stones unturned at this point," said Alec Young, global equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ. "You reach a point where investors aren't willing to bid things up any more."
Stocks have surged this year, boosted by an improving economy, Federal Reserve stimulus and record corporate earnings. Signs that the housing market is reviving are also supporting stocks. The Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard and Poor's 500 both closed at record highs Friday.
Retail sales increased 0.1 percent in April from March, the Commerce Department said Monday. That's an improvement from the 0.5 percent decline in March, which was the largest drop in nine months. Economists had forecast that sales decline by 0.3 percent.
An improving housing market has been a crucial factor in boosting consumer sentiment and in turn lifting the economy, said Doug Cote, chief market strategist at ING Investment Management.
"If housing continues its upward trajectory, the animal spirits of the consumer will continue to be bolstered," said Cote.
On Monday, stocks were mixed during midday trading, after starting the day lower.
The Dow fell 18 points, or 0.1 percent, to 15,101, as of 12:21 p.m. Eastern time. The Standard and Poor's 500 index rose two points, or 0.1 percent, to 1,635.
Companies in the materials industry fell the most of any industry group in the S&P 500, dropping 0.65 percent. Health care companies advanced the most, rising 0.7 percent.
More than 90 percent of companies in the S&P 500 have reported earnings for the first quarter, and corporate earnings are projected to grow by an average of 5 percent for the period, according to data from S&P Capital IQ. While earnings growth has slowed from the previous quarter, it is forecast to end the year at 11.6 percent.
Among stocks making big moves:
? Yum Brands fell $1.45, or 2.1 percent, to $68.55 after the owner of Kentucky Fried Chicken reported that sales in China fell 29 percent last month, driven by concerns about Avian flu.
? Theravance, a biopharmaceutical company, surged $5.05, or 14 percent, to $39.90. Irish drugmaker Elan Corp. plans to pay $1 billion for the right to future royalties from respiratory treatments being developed by Theravance and GlaxoSmithKline.
In commodities trading, oil fell $1.31, or 1.36 percent, to $94.74 a barrel. Gold dropped $5, or 4.6 percent, to $1,431 an ounce. The U.S. dollar was little changed against the Japanese yen at 101.83.
In government bond trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.92 percent from 1.90 percent. The yield has jumped this month as investors sold Treasurys and moved into riskier assets.
The Nasdaq composite rose 9 points, 0.3 percent, to 3,446.
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