The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Canada's main stock index ended lower on Wednesday for a third straight day as investors weighed earnings from some of Canada's biggest banks and braced for U.S. economic data this week that could guide expectations for the timing of interest rate cuts. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that the S&P/TSX Composite Index ended down 75.13 points at 21,243.77. Wall Street's main indexes also ended lower. "It is a downtick for equity markets in general," said Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at SIA Wealth Management. "Markets are continuing to chew through the bank earnings." RBC and National Bank both beat analysts' estimates for quarterly profit. "The weaker price action may be more about month-end rebalancing, and investors are waiting for the key inflation data in the U.S. [Thursday]," said Angelo Kourkafas, investment strategist at Edward Jones Investments. Thursday's release of the U.S. personal consumption expenditures price index for January could offer clues on prospects for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Evidence of stubborn inflation has caused the market to dial back expectations for the Fed's first rate cut to June from March.