The Dow industrials <.DJI> and the S&P 500 <.SPX> added to earlier losses and the Nasdaq <.IXIC> turned negative on Wednesday after data showed sales of new homes fell unexpectedly in December, indicating the housing recovery might be losing some steam.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 36.05 points, or 0.35 percent, to 10,158.24. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 2.81 points, or 0.26 percent, to 1,089.36. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 1.61 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,202.12.

The Commerce Department said sales fell 7.6 percent to a 342,000 unit annual rate. It was the second straight month of declines.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)