Stocks in the United States fell on Tuesday after a drop in wholesale inventories.
Financial stocks were also affected by a report late on Monday from the Congressional Oversight Panel, which highlighted the risks of toxic assets on the books of many banks.
Investors were also cautious as the US Federal Reserve began a a two-day monetary policy meeting on Tuesday.
However, non-farm productivity in the second quarter rose at its fastest pace in six years.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 96.28 points, or 1.03%, to 9,241.67.
Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 12.77 points, or 1.27%, to 994.33. The Nasdaq Composite Index slid 22.51 points, or 1.13%, to 1,969.73.
Volume was light on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1.17 billion shares changing hands - below last year's estimated daily average of 1.49 billion.
About 1.91 billion shares were traded on the Nasdaq - below last year's daily average of 2.28 billion.
