Stocks falling ahead of Federal Reserve meeting

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are falling as investors grow more cautious before the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting and after reports showed economic growth slowing in the U.S. and China.

Overseas markets are down Tuesday after Chinese trade figures showed imports there are stagnating, which could hurt many economies that are relying heavily on exports.

Waning growth in the U.S. will be the primary topic as the Fed meets. Investors will be looking for the Fed’s view on the recovery and any potential plans to restart stimulus programs.

The Dow Jones industrial average is down 71.07, or 0.7 percent, at 10,627.68. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index is down 6.85, or 0.6 percent, at 1,120.94, while the Nasdaq composite index is down 24.71, or 1.1 percent, at 2,280.98.