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Interest rate worries sent share prices lower Tuesday after strong consumer confidence and home sales data signaled that the economy is holding up better than expected and suggested that the Federal Reserve has room for more rate increases.

According to preliminary figures, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 53.07, or 0.5 percent, to 11,283.25. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index slipped 6.37, or 0.5 percent, to 1,301.74, while the Nasdaq composite index fell 3.08, or 0.1 percent, to 2,330.30.

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Among top gainers, North American Scientific Inc. closed up 12 percent to $2.46 on news of a new product approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. IndyMac Bancorp Inc. was up 7 percent to $47.35, and Wilshire Bancorp inc rose 5.5 percent on positive earnings reports. Reinhold Industries gained 7 percent to $12.63.

Losing ground was Crown Media Holdings Inc., down 9.7 percent to $3.89. Jacobs Engineering Corp. fell 10 percent to $83.43 the day after reporting earnings. Northrup Grumman Corp. was off 3 percent to $69.06 on earnings news.