Stocks extended losses for the sixth straight day on Wednesday as investors worried a slowing economy could deepen its retreat and wipe out this year's gains.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 22.10 points, or 0.18 percent, to 12,048.71, according to the latest available figures. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> lost 5.39 points, or 0.42 percent, to 1,279.55. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 26.18 points, or 0.97 percent, to 2,675.38.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Kenneth Barry)