US stocks closed out a mostly downcast week on a sour note following fresh indications the Obama administration plans military action against Syria.

At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 38.17 (0.26 per cent) at 14,802.78.

The broad-based S&P 500 dropped 5.83 (0.36 per cent) to 1,632.34, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gave up 30.43 (0.84 per cent) at 3,589.87.

Friday’s trade was light on the last session of the month and before the long holiday weekend. US financial markets will be closed Monday for the Labor Day federal holiday.

Uncertainty about Syria, coupled with uncertainty about the Federal Reserve’s September policy meeting and low trading volumes, produced a “buyer’s strike” this week, said David Levy, portfolio manager of Kenjol Capital Management.

“There’s just no impetus to buy,” Levy said. “We’re heading into a three-day weekend with plenty of uncertainty and we’re also heading into a month with quite a bit of uncertainty.”