US stocks fall for third straight day

The stock market fell to its lowest level in a month today as investors worried that the end may be nearing for the Federal Reserve's support for the economy.

The Fed's stimulus efforts have been a key factor in the bull market that has pushed the Standard & Poor's 500 index almost 25 higher percent this year. Investors know it will end sooner or later. But the timing, and the fallout, are uncertain.

Until this month, stocks had risen for eight weeks straight. But stocks posted their biggest declines since Nov. 7 on Wednesday, and dropped further today. Now they're on the verge of their second weekly loss in a row.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 104.10 points, or 0.7 percent, at 15,739.43. The S&P 500 fell 6.72 points, or 0.4 percent, to 1,775.50. The Nasdaq composite dropped 5.41 points, or 0.1 percent, to 3,998.40.

The Dow is still up 20 percent this year, and the Nasdaq has risen 32 percent.