Stocks close lower on doubts about trade deal

U.S. stocks closed lower Wednesday after reports that a trade deal with China might not be finalized this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was about 114 points lower, or 0.4%, while the S&P 500 fell about 12 points, 0.4%. The Nasdaq snapped a recent winning streak to close about 44 points lower, down 0.5%. All three indexes were well off the lows they hit in the early afternoon, after Reuters published a report suggesting the trade deal could slide into 2020. The trade uncertainties contrasted with stellar earnings results from retailers like Target Corp. and Lowe's Cos. .

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