Marketwatch — U.S. stocks ended mostly lower on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average extending their losing streak to four straight sessions. Upbeat economic reports appeared to reinforce worries that later this month the Federal Reserve could start to taper its bond-buying program that has supported equities.

The main indexes had all moved into positive territory following a report of progress toward a U.S. budget deal, but those gains faded. Many strategists have been expecting a market pullback given recent advances. Last week, the S&P 500 achieved its eight straight weekly gain, and the benchmark index remains up 25.7% in the year to date.

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