Stream of money into stocks slowed in late July NEW YORK - A stream of money flowing into the stock market slowed in late July, as investors prepared for the Federal Reserve to scale back its stimulus as early as September. Investors shoveled $714 million into stock funds in the week ending July 31, significantly less than in the preceding three weeks, according to newly released data from the Investment Company Institute. Investors plowed $4.2 billion into stock funds the previous week. Major U.S. indexes fell for the third straight day on Wednesday, after hitting all-time highs the previous week. After initial rising early Thursday, stocks continued this week's declines. The Dow Jones industrial average was off 42.39 points, or 0.27%, to 15,428.28. QUIZ: How much do you know about the stock market? Some of Wall Street's more bullish analysts predict stocks will climb higher by year's end. But a wild card will be when the Fed signals it will begin scaling back its monetary stimulus program known as quantitative easing, and how investors react. The Fed has been pumping $85 billion a month into the economy by buying bonds. The aim is to keep a lid on long-term interest rates to make borrowing cheaper so consumers and companies can easily purchase new goods or raise capital. Low rates have made bonds less attractive and pushed investors into riskier assets like stocks, fueling this year's rally. The Dow is up about 19% this year as of Thursday morning. Interest rates jumped in June following Fed signals that the easy money may end sooner rather than later. That month, investors yanked $60.5 billion out of bond funds, according to ICI data. The outflows continued in the week ending July 31, when investors pulled out $6.9 billion of bond funds. Mortgage holders sue Richmond over eminent domain plan JPMorgan: Prosecutors say subprime mortgage bonds violated law