Wall Street ends lower in broad-based selloff

Reuters
Trader Michael Zicchinolfi works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange December 11, 2013. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday in broad-based selling as traders locked in recent gains after a provisional budget deal out of Washington removed one of the near-term reasons for the Federal Reserve to continue its current pace of economic stimulus. Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 129.60 points, or 0.81 percent, to end unofficially at 15,843.53. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index slid 20.40 points, or 1.13 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,782.22. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 56.68 points, or 1.40 percent, to close unofficially at 4,003.81. (Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Jan Paschal)