Major U.S. stock indexes fell on Wednesday after members of Federal Reserve's policy-making committee said the central bank should be ready to consider additional steps to boost the economy if a softening outlook takes a turn for the worse.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 52.91 points, or 0.51 percent, to 10,310.11. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 7.03 points, or 0.64 percent, to 1,088.31. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> lost 5.25 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2,236.78.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)

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