stocks ended lower tuesday after another volatile session as investors await the outcome of a meeting of federal reserve officials the dow jones industrial average djia ended with a loss of around 68 points or 02 near 34297 according to preliminary figures after dropping more than 800 points at its session low the bluechip gauge on monday erased a drop of more than 1000 points to finish in positive territory while the sp 500 spx erased a 4 decline and the nasdaq composite comp came back from a nearly 5 intraday drop on tuesday the sp 500 fell 12 to finish near 4356 while the nasdaq declined 23 to close near 13539 fed policy makers are expected on wednesday to lay the groundwork for a march rate increase