U.S. stocks end lower after 4-day gains

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

NEW YORK, March 16 (Chinese media) -- U.S. stocks gave up a streak gaining in the past four sessions with all major

indexes ending lower on Monday.

Stocks opened higher and remained in the positive

area for most of the day on Monday, led by financials. Federal Reserve Chairman

Ben S. Bernanke said in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" that the recession

would probably end this year if the government's program to boost the ailing

banking sector succeeds and the economy will recover in 2010.

Moreover, Britain's third-biggest lender Barclays PLC

said it has a "strong" start in 2009, which added to the optimism investors

found after both Citigroup and Bank of America Corp. said they were profitable

in the first two months this year.

But the rally lost steam in late afternoon trading

and by the time the market closed all major indexes have turned negative.

Some analysts believe the retreat in the stocks is

not bad as it signaled that the market is trying to reassure the rally which

started last week. More stocks rose than fell and advancing issues outnumbered

decliners by about 3 to 2 on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Dow Jones fell 7.01, or 0.10 percent, to

7,216.97. Broader indexes also declined. The Standard Poor's 500 index

dipped 2.66,or 0.35 percent, to 753.89; and the Nasdaq lost 27.48, or 1.92

percent, to 1,404.02.