The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index lost 0.23% to end Wednesday's session at 13,172.76 despite speculation that the Fed will announce QE3 at the next meeting due on 12-13th September. Disappointing existing home sales data also added pressure on the US blue chips index. Only four in nine industries within the index climbed. Basic materials and oil and gas companies lent significant support for the US stock index. Alcoa and El du Pont de Nemours & Co advanced by 0.47% and 0.57% while Exxon Mobil and Chevron gained 0.31% and 0.15% amid higher oil and gas prices. At the same time, technology and industrial stocks weighted down on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Hewlett-Packard Co led losses of the technology sector. The company plunged by 3.66% after it cut its profit outlook for the full year. Among industrials, the top-loser were Caterpillar and Boeing, declining by 1.74% and 0.64%.