NEW YORK, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. stock indexes fell Thursday as reports pointing to residual strength in the nation's economy raised fears about possible interest rates.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 9.05 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 12,501.052. During an afternoon rally, the Dow struck an intraday high of 12,529.

On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,451 stocks advanced and 1,828 declined on volume of more than 1.5 billion shares.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 2.11, or 0.15 percent, to 1,424.73, while the Nasdaq composite index fell 5.65, or 0.23 percent, to 2,425.57.

Reports on December consumer confidence, November existing home sales and Midwest business activity were all stronger than expected, leading some traders to imagine the Fed might raise interest rates to slow economic growth.