U.S. stocks lower at close of trade; Dow Jones Industrial Average down 3.57%

Investing.com – U.S. stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Consumer Services, Consumer Goods and Technology sectors led shares lower.

At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.57% to hit a new 52-week low, while the S&P 500 index fell 4.04%, and the NASDAQ Composite index lost 4.73%.

The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ), which fell 0.10% or 0.05 points to trade at 48.89 at the close. Meanwhile, Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:AMGN) fell 0.57% or 1.39 points to end at 243.96 and Merck & Company Inc (NYSE:MRK) was down 0.97% or 0.90 points to 92.10 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA), which fell 8.39% or 3.77 points to trade at 41.17 at the close. Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO) declined 6.96% or 4.58 points to end at 61.20 and Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT) was down 6.79% or 8.92 points to 122.43.

The top performers on the S&P 500 were TJX Companies Inc (NYSE:TJX) which rose 7.12% to 60.19, Assurant Inc (NYSE:AIZ) which was up 1.31% to settle at 186.85 and NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG) which gained 1.24% to close at 45.76.

The worst performers were Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) which was down 24.93% to 161.61 in late trade, Dollar Tree Inc (NASDAQ:DLTR) which lost 14.42% to settle at 133.80 and Old Dominion Freight Line Inc (NASDAQ:ODFL) which was down 12.97% to 236.47 at the close.

The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were Troika Media Group Inc (NASDAQ:TRKA) which rose 48.21% to 0.58, Magenta Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:MGTA) which was up 32.20% to settle at 1.56 and Ricebran Tech (NASDAQ:RIBT) which gained 22.08% to close at 0.72.

The worst performers were Endo International PLC (NASDAQ:ENDP) which was down 46.54% to 0.62 in late trade, Baudax Bio Inc (NASDAQ:BXRX) which lost 31.53% to settle at 0.81 and INVO Bioscience Inc (NASDAQ:INVO) which was down 29.45% to 1.09 at the close.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 2727 to 458 and 81 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 3041 fell and 745 advanced, while 212 ended unchanged.

Shares in Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) fell to 52-week lows; down 24.93% or 53.67 to 161.61. Shares in NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG) rose to 5-year highs; rising 1.24% or 0.56 to 45.76. Shares in Old Dominion Freight Line Inc (NASDAQ:ODFL) fell to 52-week lows; falling 12.97% or 35.25 to 236.47. Shares in Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA) fell to 52-week lows; falling 8.39% or 3.77 to 41.17. Shares in Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT) fell to 52-week lows; falling 6.79% or 8.92 to 122.43. Shares in Endo International PLC (NASDAQ:ENDP) fell to all time lows; falling 46.54% or 0.54 to 0.62. Shares in Baudax Bio Inc (NASDAQ:BXRX) fell to all time lows; falling 31.53% or 0.37 to 0.81. Shares in INVO Bioscience Inc (NASDAQ:INVO) fell to 5-year lows; falling 29.45% or 0.46 to 1.09.

The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was up 18.62% to 30.96.

Gold Futures for June delivery was down 0.27% or 4.99 to $1,813.91 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July fell 2.77% or 3.04 to hit $106.59 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract fell 2.63% or 2.94 to trade at $108.99 a barrel.

EUR/USD was down 0.81% to 1.05, while USD/JPY fell 0.92% to 128.21.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.53% at 103.96.