US stocks have opened lower as a disappointing retail sales report overshadowed news of cable operator Comcast's $US45.2 billion ($A50 billion) acquisition of Time Warner Cable.
The broad-based S&P 500 slumped 8.78 (0.48 per cent) to 1,810.48, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index declined 20.73 (0.49 per cent) to 4,180.56.
US retail sales fell 0.4 per cent in January in the second straight monthly decline.
The Commerce Department said retail sales also fell 0.1 per cent in December after previously estimating growth of 0.2 per cent.
Comcast unveiled a $US45.2 billion proposed acquisition of Time Warner in an all-stock deal that would combine the top two US cable TV companies.
Comcast shares fell 2.2 per cent in early trade, while Time Warner jumped 7.9 per cent.
