Stocks fell on Thursday after a survey showed regional factory activity grew less than expected in October, and quarterly results from Goldman Sachs Group and Citigroup Inc underwhelmed investors.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said its index of business conditions in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region fell in October to 11.5 from 14.1 in September.

Earlier data showed the number of workers filing new claims for jobless insurance hit a nine-month low last week, and separately, a gauge of manufacturing in New York State jumped unexpectedly this month to its highest in five years.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 23.20 points, or 0.23 percent, to 9,992.66. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 3.37 points, or 0.31 percent, to 1,088.65. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dropped 7.08 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,165.15.

(Editing by Padraic Cassidy)