U.S. Stocks End Lower; S&P 500 Closes At Two-week Low

U.S. stocks declined for a second consecutive session on Wednesday, sending the S&P 500 to the lowest level in two weeks. Investors remained cautious ahead of the closely watched official jobs report, due on Friday, amid mixed economic data this week. Private-sector employment data on Wednesday showed continued gains in February but at a slower pace than in the prior month. Meanwhile, a gauge of activity in the services sector edged up last month. The S&P 500 closed 9.24 points, or 0.4%, lower at 2,098.54. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 106.41 points, or 0.6%, to 18,096.96. The Nasdaq Composite ended the day down 12.76 points, or 0.3%, at 4,967.14.