The US markets ended lower on Monday amid easing prospects of aggressive rate cuts by the Federal Reserve following a much higher than expected addition in U.S. non-payroll employment in the month of September. Investors also awaited earnings announcements from major banks, and some crucial economic data, including readings on consumer price and producer price inflation. Besides, traders cautious as Israeli defense forces intensified air strikes targeting Gaza and the Lebanese capital of Beirut simultaneously on the first anniversary of Hamas' cross-border attack in Israel, which triggered the Middle East war.
Dozens were killed in air strikes on a mosque and a now defunct school, which were converted as refugee relief shelters Sunday, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military says Hamas militants were hiding there. Stock specific developments Apple Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platform, Berkshire Hathaway, Tesla, Walmart, Visa, Procter & Gamble, Netflix, Coca-Cola, Salesforce, Merck, Accenture, Walt Disney, Nike, KKR and ADP lost 1 to 4 percent. However, Pfizer climbed more than 2 percent. Abott, IBM, Eli Lilly & Co., NVIDIA Corporation and Exxon Mobil also closed higher.
Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 398.51 points or 0.94 percent to 41,954.24, Nasdaq dropped 213.95 points or 1.18 percent to 17,923.9 and S&P 500 was down by 55.13 points or 0.96 percent to 5,695.94.