Stocks lose ground in holiday-shortened week as investors weigh earnings, inflation

Stocks ended lower Thursday, leaving major indexes with losses for a holiday-shortened week; U.S. markets will be closed on Good Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell around 114 points, or 0.3%, to close near 34,451, according to preliminary figures, while the S&P 500 lost around 54 points, or 1.2%, finishing near 4,393. The Nasdaq Composite fell around 293 points, or 2.1%, to end near 13,351. The Dow fell 0.8% for the week, while the S&P 500 fell 2.1% and the Nasdaq lost 2.6%. Investors weighed a mixed start to earnings season, including results from major banks on Thursday. Inflation data earlier this week showed consumer prices rose in March at the fastest year-over-year pace since 1981.

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