Wall Street ended a four-day rally on Wednesday with its worst day since August and could face more losses as investors are faced with more signs the economic recovery is fading.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 279.42 points, or 2.22 percent, to 12,290.37. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 30.66 points, or 2.28 percent, to 1,314.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> slid 66.11 points, or 2.33 percent, to 2,769.19.

It was the largest percentage drop for the S&P 500 and the Dow since August, and largest for the Nasdaq Composite since February.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)