US indexes fall for a fourth day as lower oil drags down energy companies; Airlines stabilize

Traders Anthony Riccio, left, and Patrick Casey work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014. U.S. markets were mostly flat in early trading Thursday, follow a sell-off the day before, as U.S. investors had little reaction to comments from European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, who announced new economic stimulus measures for the continent. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (The Associated Press)

NEW YORK – Energy companies are leading a broad decline in the stock market as the price of oil heads lower.

U.S. indexes are heading for a fourth straight decline, leaving the market on track for its worst week since early August.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 93 points, or 0.6 percent, to 16,710 as of noon Eastern time Thursday. It dropped 238 points the day before.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 14 points, or 0.8 percent, to 1,931. The Nasdaq composite fell 40 points, or 0.9 percent, to 4,381.

Energy stocks fell the most as the price of crude oil slid.

Spice maker McCormick rose 2 percent after reporting earnings and revenue that came in ahead of what analysts were expecting.