U.S. stocks fall on Fed minutes language; Dow down 0.70%

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve released the minutes of its July policy meeting, which suggested that the U.S. central bank's USD85 billion in monthly bond purchases will begin to taper soon.

Asset purchases work to stimulate the economy by driving down interest rates, which makes stocks an attractive buy, though talk of their dismantling can send stocks falling.

At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.70%, the S&P 500 index fell 0.58%, while the Nasdaq Composite index fell 0.38%.

Fed language released earlier suggested monthly asset purchases will begin to taper soon, though uncertainty remained over the timing of such a decision, which sparked volatility in equities bourses Wednesday.

"Almost all participants confirmed that they were broadly comfortable with the characterization of the contingent outlook for asset purchases," the minutes read, adding two camps remain in place over the timing of tapering.

"A few members emphasized the importance of being patient and evaluating additional information on the economy before deciding on any changes to the pace of asset purchases. At the same time, a few others pointed to the contingent plan that had been articulated on behalf of the Committee the previous month, and suggested that it might soon be time to slow somewhat the pace of purchases as outlined in that plan."

Elsewhere, the National Association of Realtors reported earlier that existing home sales jumped 6.5% to 5.39 million annual unit rate in July from June’s revised total of 5.06 million. 

Analysts were expecting U.S. existing home sales to edge up 1.6% to 5.15 million units.

At the end of the day, investors concluded that monetary stimulus tools are on their way out and sold equities despite the better-than-expected data out of the housing market.

The National Association of Realtors reported earlier that existing home sales jumped 6.5% to 5.39 million annual unit rate in July from June’s revised total of 5.06 million. Analysts were expecting U.S. existing home sales to edge up 1.6% to 5.15 million units.

Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included Wal-Mart, up 0.45%, Bank of America, up 0.28%, and IBM, up 0.16%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Alcoa, down 2.00%, Hewlett-Packard, down 1.74%, and 3M, down 1.73%.

European indices, meanwhile, finished lower.

After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.52%, France's CAC 40 fell 0.34%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished down 0.18%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished down 0.97%.

On Thursday, markets will track U.S. initial jobless claims, manufacturing data and comments from Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Richard Fisher, who is due to appear in public.