U.S. stocks fell for a third straight day on Friday on doubts about the strength of the economic recovery after new orders for durable goods fell unexpectedly in August.

Consumer sentiment and new home sales data is expected later on Friday.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 18.59 points, or 0.19 percent, to 9,688.85. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 3.51 points, or 0.33 percent, to 1,047.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> lost 11.99 points, or 0.57 percent, to 2,095.62.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

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