U.S. stocks slide amid economic data

U.S. stocks closed lower on Thursday, as investors digested a batch of newly-released economic reports and awaited a key speech from U.S. Federal Reserve's Chair Janet Yellen.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 33.07 points, or 0.18 percent, to 18,448.41. The S&P 500 was down 2.97 points, or 0.14 percent, to 2,172.47. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 5.49 points, or 0.11 percent, to 5,212.20. Endit