U.S. stocks fell on Friday after investors sold and jumped to the sidelines ahead of next week's Federal Reserve statement on interest rates and monetary policy. U.S. stocks end lower ahead of Fed meeting; Dow slides 0.36% Stocks edge lower as market braces for Fed statement At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow 30 fell 0.36%. The Fed will meet next week to review monetary policy, and markets are hoping for hints as to when benchmark interest rates will rise. The Fed is also expected to cut its quantitative easing program to $10 billion in Treasury and mortgage-backed securities purchased each month from $15 billion before closing the program in October. Upbeat data fueled expectations for a hawkish Fed statement due out next Wednesday, prompting investors to sell stocks for profits and head to the sidelines ahead of time.
