U.S. stocks fell at the close on Thursday, amid a sell-off in the technology sector led by chip companies, along with continued military escalation between the United States and Iran, threatening key 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 declined 0.51%, or 38 points, to 7,533 points, while the NASDAQ Composite retreated 1.47%, or 387 points, to 25,881 points.

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

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

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

Commodity

Price

Change in Value

Change (%)

84.97

(0.65)

(0.76 %)

79.44

(0.11)

(0.14 %)

3,974.50

(85.32)

(2.10 %)

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

U.S. Nymex crude futures for August delivery declined 0.82%, or 65 cents, to $78.95 a barrel.

For gold, futures for the yellow metal for August delivery dropped 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 tech spending on artificial intelligence, as the U.S. continued its strikes on Iran, and reports emerged of Iranian efforts to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait.