STOCKS RETREAT AS BONDS WEAKEN.(BUSINESS)

Byline: PATRICIA LAMIELL Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Stocks beat a hasty retreat in the final hour of trading Wednesday, giving back more than half of Monday's big gains, as interest rates rose to the highest level in six months in the bond market.

The Dow Jones industrial average slid 144.75 to close at 9,399.67, surrendering more than two-thirds of Monday's 212-point gain.

The Dow, which slipped 8.26 points on Tuesday, now sits about 250 points, or 2.5 percent, below the record close of 9,643.32, set Jan. 8.

Stocks actually rallied in the morning after a weak opening, briefly lifting the Dow over 9,600. The market began retreating by late …