Wall Street loses ground ahead of Powell's statements

US stock indices lost ground today as markets look forward to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech later today. 

Earlier data showed US private sector sector added 127 thousand in November, the lowest since December 2020, missing estimates of 196 thousand, and down from 239 thousand in October. 

US economy grew 2.9% in the third quarter, beating estimates of 2.8%, and up from 2.6% in the preliminary reading, and after the economy contracted 0.6% in the second quarter. 

Dow Jones fell 0.6%, or 200 points to 33,654 as of 15:37 GMT, while S&P 500 fell 0.2%, or 10 points to 3,947, as NASDAQ added 0.2%, or 25 points to 11,010.