Major U.S. stock exchanges began Thursday trading with significant losses following President Donald Trump’s indication of more forceful action against Iran, which reduced investor confidence in a rapid conclusion to Middle Eastern tensions.
Trading opened with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 96.4 points, representing a 0.21% decline to reach 46,469.36. The S&P 500 index decreased by 62.7 points, falling 0.95% to 6,512.61, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite saw the steepest decline, losing 368.4 points or 1.69% to open at 21,472.523.
The market declines occurred during the final trading day of a week shortened by holidays, as investors processed the implications of the president’s more hawkish stance on Iran policy.
