By Chuck Mikolajczak NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks closed lower for a fourth consecutive session on Thursday as economic data did little to alter expectations the Federal Reserve would continue raising interest rates for longer than previously thought. Following the Federal Reserve’s statement on Wednesday, comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell that it was “very premature” to be thinking about pausing its rate hikes sent stocks lower as U.S. bond yields and the U.S. dollar rose, a pattern that extended into Thursday. Economic data on Thursday showed a labor market that continues to stay str…