U.S. stocks fell at the close of trading on Thursday, amid a sell-off in the technology sector led by chip companies, alongside continued military escalation between the United States and Iran, which threatens the most important energy and trade routes in the Middle East.

Index

Index Reading

Change in Value

Change (%)

52,552.97

(105.67)

(0.20 %)

25,881.95

(387.28)

(1.47 %)

7,533.77

(38.63)

(0.51 %)

24,915.49

(84.04)

(0.34 %)

8,377.86

(4.57)

(0.05 %)

10,572.24

56.34

0.54 %

25,008.60

327.50

1.33 %

66,835.54

(1,915.97)

(2.79 %)

77,186.87

1.44

0.00 %

At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.20% or 105 points to 52,552 points.

The broader S&P 500 index fell 0.51% or 38 points to 7,533 points, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.47% or 387 points to 25,881 points.

In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.16% to 643 points.

The UK's FTSE 100 rose 0.54% to 10,572 points, while Germany's DAX fell 0.34% to 24,915 points, and France's CAC 40 settled at 8,377 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 2.80% to 66,835 points, and the broader Topix fell 1.45% to 4,028 points.

Commodity

Price

Change in Value

Change (%)

84.91

(0.05)

(0.06 %)

78.95

(0.65)

(0.81 %)

3,992.10

(59.70)

(1.47 %)

On oil, Brent crude futures for September delivery fell 0.85% or 72 cents to $84.23 a barrel.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures for August delivery fell 0.82% or 65 cents to $78.95 a barrel.

Gold futures for August delivery fell 1.47% or $59.70 to $3,992.10 an ounce.

What's Behind the Market Moves? Chip stocks came under pressure amid questions about the viability of massive spending by tech companies on artificial intelligence, as the US continued its strikes on Iran, and reports emerged about Iranian attempts to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.