US close: Markets finish red as political concerns heighten

US markets finished weaker on Tuesday amid growing geopolitical concerns and ahead of a testimony to the Senate panel by former FBI boss James Comey later in the week.

Nasdaq 100

20,394.13

12:15 15/11/24

-2.40%

-502.54

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.23% at 21,136.23, the S&P 500 was down 0.28% at 2,429.33 and the Nasdaq 100 lost 0.36% to 5,856.77.

"Equity markets are negative today as global risk-off sentiment continues into a second day,” said Accendo Markets research analyst Henry Croft.

“Safe-havens, led by precious metal gold, are enjoying dramatically increased demand ahead of Thursday's three key market events - the UK election, ECB policy meeting and ex-FBI chief Comey's testimony.”

In economic news, the number of job openings in the US rose by 259,000 to 6m in April, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics.

US house prices increased at a 6.9% year-on-year clip in April and by 1.6% month-on-month, according to CoreLogic.

On the corporate front, stock in Valeant Pharmaceuticals advanced 1.78% following a report that it is in talks to sell its surgical products unit to Carl Zeiss Meditec.

Shares in G-III Apparel flew 15.23% higher after the owner of the Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Donna Karan brands raised its full-year financial guidance and reported a quarterly loss that was only half of what analysts had forecast.

Apple shares were 0.34% higher in pre-market trade after the technology giant unveiled its HomePod smart speaker, recovering from losses in the previous session when it was downgraded by Pacific Crest.

Dow Jones - Risers

Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) $81.21 1.36%
Chevron Corp. (CVX) $104.17 0.95%
Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) $180.81 0.81%
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (DD) $81.08 0.50%
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $130.83 0.36%
Apple Inc. (AAPL) $154.45 0.34%
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $72.52 0.33%
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $214.53 0.25%
JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $82.97 0.21%
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $46.44 0.15%