The broad S&P 500 index and technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index lost 0.6 percent each, while the Dow Jones industrial index retreated 0.4 percent.
Graphics card manufacturer Nvidia, which has risen sharply over the past week or so, fell back slightly on Wednesday, ending at minus 5.7 percent.
According to some analysts, the negative stock market sentiment can be explained by the fact that today’s labor market figures for April were stronger than expected, which in turn could give the central bank the Federal Reserve an incentive to raise the policy rate further at its meeting in two weeks.