DOW

Dow

12,240.11

-62.44

-0.51%

By: JeeYeon Park

CNBC.com Writer

Stocks reversed course in the final hour of trading to end lower amid thin volume Thursday as investors nervously awaited a key vote on a bill to cut the U.S. deficit in Congress this evening.

Stocks were boosted earlier by a handful of encouraging economic news in addition to a slew of positive earnings reports.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 62.44 points, or 0.51 percent, to end at 12,240.11—sliding from an intraday high of 12384.90. The Dow has tumbled almost 4 percent in the last five sessions.


The S&P 500 slipped 4.22 points, or 0.32 percent, to finish at 1,300.67.




While the tech-heavy Nasdaq edged up 1.46 points, or 0.05 percent, to finish at 2,766.25.



The CBOE Volatility Index, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, closed at a four-month high above 23.



Among key S&P sectors, telecom and industrials led the laggards, while techs gained.





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