US stocks open lower after two straight days of gains; Lowe's sinks on weak outlook

Greg Mulligan, center, works with fellow traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014. Better news on home building and corporate earnings are sending stocks higher. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (The Associated Press)

U.S. stocks are opening lower after two straight days of gains.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell eight points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,911 as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell two points, or 0.1 percent, to 1,979. The Nasdaq composite lost seven points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,520.

Lowe's fell 3 percent in early trading after the home improvement company lowered its full-year revenue outlook.

Investors were waiting for the release of minutes later Wednesday of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.41 percent.