US close: Stocks end in the red as energy sector slumps

US equities ended a choppy session in the red on Tuesday as a fresh batch of weak Chinese data renewed fears over a possible global slowdown, while weak oil prices weighed on energy-related stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.9%, the S&P 500 fell 0.6% and the Nasdaq ended 0.1% lower.

On the macroeconomic front, figures released by the Labor Department showed job openings fell from 5.53m in September to 5.38m in October, falling short of analysts’ expectations for a 5.54m reading.

Meanwhile, the NFIB small business index fell short of expectations in November, as it ticked down from 96.1 to 94.8, compared with analysts’ forecast for a 96.4 reading.

The economic and earnings expectations gauges both fell three points, while the sales expectations sub-index shed five points.

“Even though there is talk that the Fed will be raising rates this month, it will hardly signal that they are feeling more optimistic about the economy,” said NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg.

Chinese data disappoints

Exports in the world’s second largest economy fell 6.8% in November, their fifth straight month of decline and a sharper drop than expected, while imports were down 8.7%, slightly better than consensus for an 11.8% decline.

The overall trade surplus came in at 343bn yuan or $53bn.

“Chinese export numbers fell sharply to post -6.8% instead of the -5% that was expected,” said James Hughes, chief market analyst at GKFX.

“This has spooked the market a little but nowhere near as much as negative China data would have done prior to us being a little more certain about the Fed’s next decision.”

In company news, Staples and Office Depot slid after announcing late on Monday that they would contest the US Federal Trade Commission’s decision to block Staples’ proposed acquisition of Office Depot.

Chipotle fell as it emerged late on Monday that a number of students fell ill after eating at one of its Boston restaurants. The restaurant chain has been working with the Centers for Disease Control over the past month as it investigates an E.coli outbreak that involved nine states.

Qualcomm was under pressure after the European Commission said it has charged the company with illegally paying a major customer to exclusively use its chips and selling chips below cost in order to force competitor Icera Inc. out of the market.

Oil prices settled lower for a third day, with West Texas Intermediate down 0.1% at $37.63 a barrel and Brent crude 1.2% lower at $40.25 a barrel. Oil prices have been under the cosh since last week’s meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries failed to lead to production cuts.

The dollar fell 0.6% against the euro and 0.3% against the yen, but gained 0.3% versus the pound, while spot gold added 0.3% to $1,074.84.

S&P 500 - Risers

AutoZone Inc. (AZO) $796.09 +5.84%

NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) $10.09 +5.65%

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) $188.72 +5.34%

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (COG) $17.56 +4.52%

Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU) $10.09 +3.91%

Baxalta Incorporated (BXLT) $36.99 +3.53%

Lam Research Corp. (LRCX) $80.42 +3.25%

Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) $4.39 +2.81%

Celgene Corp. (CELG) $112.05 +2.75%

Citrix Systems Inc. (CTXS) $78.52 +2.51%

S&P 500 - Fallers

Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) $45.04 -9.16%

Genworth Financial Inc. (GNW) $4.18 -7.11%

H&R Block Inc. (HRB) $34.31 -6.99%

Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX) $6.74 -6.78%

Mosaic Company (MOS) $30.02 -6.33%

Alcoa Inc. (AA) $8.52 -5.75%

Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) $86.32 -5.68%

QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM) $49.46 -5.66%

Staples Inc. (SPLS) $10.07 -5.53%

Viacom Inc. Class B (VIAB) $44.71 -5.17%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers

McDonald's Corp. (MCD) $116.53 +0.09%

Nike Inc. (NKE) $131.70 +0.08%

Dow Jones I.A - Fallers

Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) $74.61 -2.85%

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $66.54 -2.66%

Boeing Co. (BA) $144.99 -2.33%

United Technologies Corp. (UTX) $94.23 -1.75%

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $65.99 -1.51%

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) $59.61 -1.47%

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $182.92 -1.39%

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $27.15 -1.24%

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $112.51 -1.16%

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) $138.05 -1.07%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) $188.72 +5.34%

Lam Research Corp. (LRCX) $80.42 +3.25%

Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $181.75 +3.21%

Celgene Corp. (CELG) $112.05 +2.75%

Citrix Systems Inc. (CTXS) $78.52 +2.51%

Biogen Inc (BIIB) $288.49 +2.44%

Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) $90.03 +2.39%

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) $91.72 +2.37%

Incyte Corp. (INCY) $110.12 +2.23%

KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC) $68.73 +1.85%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM) $49.46 -5.66%

Staples Inc. (SPLS) $10.07 -5.53%

Viacom Inc. Class B (VIAB) $44.71 -5.17%

Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) $61.80 -4.33%

Discovery Communications Inc. Class A (DISCA) $29.43 -4.14%

Discovery Communications Inc. Class C (DISCK) $28.18 -4.12%

American Airlines Group (AAL) $44.55 -2.69%

CH Robinson Worldwide Inc (CHRW) $60.51 -2.53%

Twenty-First Century Fox Inc Class A (FOXA) $28.73 -2.03%

Vodafone Group Plc ADS (VOD) $32.55 -2.02%