U.S. Stocks Fall as S&P 500 Completes Best September Since 1939

U.S. stocks fell, trimming the biggest September gain since 1939 for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, as investors sold some of the month’s best-performing shares amid speculation that improving economic data will reduce the need for the Federal Reserve to stimulate growth.

Caterpillar Inc., which has rallied 21 percent in September for the top gain in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, fell 1.6 percent to lead the 30-stock gauge lower today along with biggest decliner American Express Co., which fell 2.3 percent. Apple Inc., up 17 percent this month, slumped 1.3 percent. Occidental Petroleum Corp. gained 2.2 percent, leading a measure of energy stocks to the only rise among 10 groups in the S&P 500.