Stocks ticked toward session lows on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve's snapshot of economic conditions showed labor market weakness persisted even though the economic slowdown is moderating.

Stocks already had been hampered by a report showing a steep drop in U.S. durable goods orders last month that underscored fears of more economic weakness, while falling commodity prices hurt shares in the energy and resources sectors.

A sell-off in China's stock market on concerns that authorities there might curb bank lending also stung the broader market.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 73.61 points, or 0.81 percent, to 9,023.11. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 10.10 points, or 1.03 percent, to 969.52. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dipped 16.20 points, or 0.82 percent, to 1,959.31.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)

China Energy