Stocks wobbled before a key inflation report. November CPI data comes ahead of the Fed's final meeting of 2024, with markets eyeing another rate cut.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was off 154.10 points, or nearly 0.4% to end around 44,247.83. The blue-chip index fell for a fourth consecutive day and suffered its largest four-day decline since Nov. 15, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

U.S. stocks are drifting around their records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation.

The Commerce Department is expected to report that headline inflation pressures ticked modestly higher last month, with economists looking for a year-on-year advance of 2.7%. Core

Indexes ended lower on Thursday as traders' attention turned to the November nonfarm payrolls report on Friday morning.

Asian stocks are mixed after U.S. indexes drifted lower ahead of an update on consumer inflation readings due later Wednesday

US employers added more jobs than expected in November, bouncing back after October's dismal reading. Stocks rose and yields slumped Friday morning.