US stocks closed lower across the board Thursday as geopolitical uncertainty surrounding Iran and disappointing earnings from major companies weighed on sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed more than 460 points, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite also finished in negative territory.
The Dow fell 464.02 points, or 0.85 percent, to close at 53,885.10 on the New York Stock Exchange.
The large-cap S&P 500 dropped 13.59 points, or 0.18 percent, to 7,709.96, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slipped 15.08 points, or 0.06 percent, to 26,384.40.
Markets kept a close eye on developments in the Middle East, particularly tensions involving the United States and Iran. Ongoing uncertainty over negotiations on passage through the Strait of Hormuz continued to dampen investor sentiment.
Mixed corporate earnings added to the pressure, driving heightened volatility in individual stocks. Weaker-than-expected results from some companies, along with concerns about the earnings outlook, further weighed on market mood.
However, the Nasdaq's losses were limited by resilience among some large-cap technology stocks, leaving the index to close only marginally lower. Investors showed caution ahead of the US July jobs report, due out Saturday.
sjy@heraldcorp.com
