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US Equity Indexes Slump as Semiconductors Lead Big-Tech Slide
US equity indexes dived following a sharp sell-off in technology, led by semiconductors, in midday trading on Tuesday.The Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.8% to 25,468.1, with the S&P 500 down 0.9% to 7,340.8, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower by 0.2% to 50,710.5.Technology and energy were standout decliners, down 3.1% and 1.9%, respectively. Marvell Technology (MRVL), Arm (ARM), Dell (DELL), and Qualcomm (QCOM) declined by at least 8% each, the worst-performing stocks among companies with market capitalizations exceeding $200 billion, according to data compiled by Finviz.The real estate, healthcare, and materials sectors led the gainers.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 3.4% to $88.22, and Brent crude futures dropped 2.8% to $91.60.A deal to end the war in the Middle East could be reached in "two to three days," with the Strait of Hormuz reopening "immediately" after the agreement is signed, President Donald Trump was cited as saying in a CNBC news report. The two countries are nearing a deal "that will not in any way allow nuclear weapons," Trump was cited as saying."Oil gave back most of Monday's gains after Israel and Iran halted hostilities that had threatened to derail already fragile efforts to secure a broader peace agreement in the Middle East," Saxo Bank wrote in a note. "US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, maintained his typically optimistic tone, saying negotiations are in the 'final throes' of what he expects will be a successful deal."Most US Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year down one basis point to 4.54%. The two-year rate fell 2.3 basis points to 4.14%.In precious metals, gold futures dropped 2% to $4,277.5, and silver futures slumped 5.2% to $65.04.US existing home sales increased to the highest level since December in May, the National Association of Realtors said. Sales rose 3.2% sequentially to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million units last month."More Americans are on the move, with home sales rising to the highest level since December. This is great news for the housing market and the economy," NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. "Improving affordability is helping drive this momentum."The goods and services deficit narrowed $700 million to $55.9 billion in April from March on a seasonally adjusted basis, the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis said. The consensus was for a $56.1 billion shortfall in a Bloomberg survey."Soaring oil exports are helping to narrow the US trade gap, with tariffs playing a more minor role in slowing imports," Sal Guatieri, BMO Capital Markets senior economist, said in a note. The export gain was driven by "surging crude sales" while computer hardware and microchips continued to fuel import growth, he said.Wholesale inventories rose by 0.6% in April, revised up from a 0.5% increase in the advance reading and following a 1.5% rise in March. Analysts in a Bloomberg-compiled survey expected April inventories to be revised upward to a 0.6% increase.
Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$ARM$DELL$MRVL$QCOM
