U.S. stocks hit session lows in choppy trading on Thursday, weighed down by materials and financial shares as investors paused following a three-day runup.

Initially the market was boosted by data that showed factory activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region rose in September to its highest level since June 2007.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 22.83 points, or 0.23 percent, to 9,768.88. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> lost 5.19 points, or 0.49 percent, to 1,063.57. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> slipped 10.01 points, or 0.47 percent, to 2,123.14.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)