Dow, S&P 500 book 4-day losing streak as banking shares drag down stocks

U.S. stocks closed lower for a fourth session in a row on Thursday as pressure on shares of banking stocks continued to weigh on equities. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA fell about 286 points, or 0.9%, ending near 33,127, according to preliminary FactSet figures. The S&P 500 index SPX fell 0.7% and the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP slumped 0.5%. That marked the S&P 500’s longest losing streak since since Feb. 22, according to Dow Jones Market Data, and the longest losing stretch since Dec. 19 for the Nasdaq. Pressure in the U.S. banking sector has been a key focus for investors, with shares of the SPDR S&P Regional…