(March 3): U.S. stocks retreated on Thursday, led by financial stocks, while Caterpillar shares dropped following news that federal officials searched its Illinois facilities.

Caterpillar, down 4.6 percent, was the biggest drag on the Dow and among the biggest negatives for the S&P 500. It was not immediately clear why federal agents raided the three locations.

Financials led the decline among S&P 500 sectors, with the S&P financial index down 1.3 percent and on track for its biggest daily percentage decline since mid-January.

Bank stocks had surged on Wednesday on expectations increased that the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates this month. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq had their best day since the November election after U.S. President Donald Trump's measured tone in his first speech to Congress lifted optimism.

"I don't attribute it to too much, other than the market taking a little bit of a break," said Paul Nolte, portfolio manager at Kingsview Asset Management in Chicago.

"Investors are looking at the run and saying we're up a significant amount since the election. Clearly, this pace isn't going to continue, and people are rotating to the parts of the market that have not participated" as much in the post-election rally.

Investors also are watching the trading debut of Snap Inc , the parent company of messaging app Snapchat. The shares were up 51.5 percent at $25.75 after pricing at $17.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 51.13 points, or 0.24 percent, to 21,064.42, the S&P 500 lost 8.97 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,386.99 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 30.47 points, or 0.52 percent, to 5,873.56.

The S&P 500 is up 11.6 percent since the Nov. 8 election.

Several Fed officials this week have stoked expectations of an interest rate hike this month as the economy strengthens.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen is set to speak on Friday and could provide the strongest indication about a move in coming weeks. The Fed's policy-setting meeting is set for March 14-15.

Traders have currently priced in a 74-percent chance of a rate hike this month, up from roughly 30 percent at the start of the week, according to Thomson Reuters data. Kroger fell 3.4 percent after reporting a surprise decline in fourth-quarter same-store sales as competition intensified in the U.S. grocery industry.

Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 2.34-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.90-to-1 ratio favored decliners.

The S&P 500 posted 38 new 52-week highs and 3 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 117 new highs and 35 new lows. - Reuters