Wall Street sank on Tuesday, continuing a punishing month for U.S. stocks, as dismal outlook from industrial bellwethers Caterpillar and 3M sparked concerns over corporate growth and added to worries ranging from China`s slowdown to Saudi Arabia`s diplomatic isolation.
The S&P 500 has now declined for five straight sessions and had finished higher on only four of the 17 trading days this month. The benchmark index has lost 7.22 percent from its record closing high.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is 6.83 percent down from its all-time closing high and the Nasdaq 9 percent. If the Nasdaq closes down 10 percent or more from its closing high, a level it hit in the session, it would confirm a correction.
Caterpillar
That reignited worries over the impact of rising borrowing costs, wages and tariffs on corporate profits and caused S&P industrial stocks <.splrci> to slide 2.24 percent.
Along with worries over profit growth, concerns over events such as the upcoming U.S mid-term elections and Italy`s budget have also sent investors scrambling out of stocks.
"We are having another risk-off sentiment day," said Massud Ghaussy, senior analyst at Nasdaq IR Intelligence, in New York City.
"Negative news, which includes a slowdown in corporate earnings, trade tensions, any softening of economic data as a result of trade tensions, emerging (market) risk with the dollar rising, is adding to the viscous cycle of markets dropping."
The beaten-down technology sector <.splrct> fell 1.37 percent, led by chipmakers, over concerns of slowing growth in China and ahead of key earnings.
Microsoft
"There`s a reason why value has been outperforming growth. The tech sector has had a spectacular run over the past two years, and as monetary policy tightens, it`s obviously affecting those that have rallied the most," said Ghasssy.
Profit growth at S&P 500 companies is expected to have slowed to 22.1 percent in the third quarter, from the previous two, according to Refinitiv data, and is expected to slow to 19.6 percent in the fourth quarter.
At 12:36 p.m. EDT the Dow <.dji> was down 321.01 points, or 1.27 percent, at 24,996.40, the S&P <.spx> was down 36.78 points, or 1.33 percent, at 2,719.10 and the Nasdaq Composite <.ixic> was down 89.57 points, or 1.20 percent, at 7,379.06.
The CBOE Volatility Index <.vix>, Wall Street`s fear gauge, rose 2.1 points, its sharpest jump in two weeks.
All 11 major S&P sectors were in the red, with the defensive utilities
Energy stocks <.spny> fell 3.50 percent, the most among the sectors, as oil prices plunged after Saudi Arabia said it could supply more crude quickly if needed, easing concerns ahead of U.S. sanctions on Iran. [O/R]
However, not all earnings report on the day were disheartening.
McDonald`s
Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 3.95-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and a 2.82-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.
The S&P index recorded two new 52-week highs and 86 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded two new highs and 364 new lows.
(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
![https://www.zeebiz.com/personal-finance/photo-gallery-sip-swp-monthly-pension-income-retirement-corpus-planning-calculator-inr-rs-20000-monthly-investment-for-15-years-inr-99000-monthly-return-for-42-years-313283](https://cdn.zeebiz.com/sites/default/files/styles/zeebiz_700x394/public/2024/09/06/316973-rupee-pixabay-take-1.jpg?itok=02-hJh59)
SIP+SWP: Rs 20,000 monthly SIP for 16 years to get Rs 99,000 monthly income for 42 years; how is it possible?
![https://www.zeebiz.com/market-news/news-bajaj-finserv-rvnl-borosil-renewables-carysil-railtel-corporation-stocks-to-buy-hdfc-securities-recommendation-picks-target-stop-loss-bse-nse-313386](https://cdn.zeebiz.com/sites/default/files/styles/zeebiz_700x394/public/2024/09/06/317091-26.jpg?itok=gE1cWt7z)
RVNL, Bajaj Finserv and 5 more: Brokerage recommends buying these 7 stocks for up to 3 months | Check target, stop loss
![https://www.zeebiz.com/personal-finance/photo-gallery-nps-vs-ups-vs-ops-monthly-pension-income-retirement-corpus-calculator-what-will-be-your-pension-on-inr-rs-10000-contribution-for-35-years-expert-calculations-313361](https://cdn.zeebiz.com/sites/default/files/styles/zeebiz_700x394/public/2024/09/06/317060-rupee-pixabay-take-2.jpg?itok=cOVdof_v)
NPS vs UPS vs OPS: What will be your monthly pension if you contribute Rs 10,000 monthly for 35 years? Get expert calculations
![https://www.zeebiz.com/personal-finance/photo-gallery-top-7-etf-sip-mutual-funds-in-5-years-calculator-how-inr-rs-21000-monthly-investment-has-grown-in-nifty-sp-bse-next-50-cpse-uti-icici-pru-nippon-india-motilal-oswal-bharat-22-nift-mid-infra-313306](https://cdn.zeebiz.com/sites/default/files/styles/zeebiz_700x394/public/2024/09/06/316994-indian-currency-pixabay-take-1.jpg?itok=JURVEkst)
Top 7 ETF Mutual Funds With Highest SIP Returns in 5 Years: How Rs 21,000 monthly SIP has grown in each ETF over the years
![https://www.zeebiz.com/personal-finance/photo-gallery-sbi-senior-citizen-fd-fixed-deposit-latest-interest-rate-2024-calculator-what-be-maturity-amount-with-return-on-investments-of-inr-900000-lakh-in-1-3-5-year-guaranteed-return-scheme-retirement-planning-313221](https://cdn.zeebiz.com/sites/default/files/styles/zeebiz_700x394/public/2024/09/06/316909-note-coin-pixabay-take-1.jpg?itok=3RPKcBYE)
SBI Senior Citizen FD Rates 2024: What you can get if you invest Rs 3 lakh, Rs 5 lakh, Rs 7 lakh, and Rs 9 lakh in 1-, 3-, and 5-year FDs
01:45 AM IST