Stocks End Lower; Dow Logs Lowest Close In 3 Weeks

U.S. stocks finished lower Thursday as Federal Reserve officials hinted that a rate increase may be warranted sooner than investors previously expected. The S&P 500 slid 0.1%, or 3 points, to 2,172, as health care emerged as the index's worst-performing sector, driven by a sharp drop in Mylan N.V. . The Dow industrials shed 0.2%, or 31 points, to 18,449, its lowest closing level since early August. UnitedHealth Group Inc. was the blue-chip gauge's worst performer. The Nasdaq Composite index fell 0.1%, or 6 points, to 5,212.