Wall Street stocks opened lower and then turned flat on Wednesday, June 13 extending earlier declines after retail sales fell for a second consecutive month and producer prices dropped more sharply than expected.

Investors found little reason to buy following steep equity gains in the previous session and continuing uncertainties in Europe.

The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index and the Dow Jones industrial average were down 0.2 percent in afternoon trading, and the Nasdaq composite index was off 0.1 percent.

Markets have been volatile this week, with the S.&P. 500 moving more than 1 percent for the past two trading days. Anemic trading volume has amplified the moves.

Retail sales fell 0.2 percent in May, as expected, while producer prices were down 1 percent, wider than the expected decline of 0.6 percent, Reuters reported.