Just nine sessions after closing above 45,000 for the first time ever on Dec. 4, the Dow made history in the opposite direction. The blue-chip index shed 267 points today for its ninth-straight loss and longest losing streak since 1978. The S&P 500 moved lower as well, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq finished in the red but held the 20,000 level after a brief test. 

As investors await the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision tomorrow, Wall Street's "fear gauge" -- the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) -- closed above 15 for the first time since Nov. 22. 

COMMODITIES COOL AS FED TAKES SPOTLIGHT

Oil prices fell again today, as demand concerns weighed. January-dated West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude shed 63 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at $70.08 per barrel.

Gold prices finished lower as well, with the safe-haven asset taking cues from a swelling U.S. dollar and potentially hawkish Fed rhetoric tomorrow. For the session, gold for December delivery lost 0.3% to settle at $2,663.30 an ounce.

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