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Major U.S. stock indexes head lower

By Alex Veiga/The Associated Press - | May 16, 2018

FILE- In this April 19, 2017, file photo, specialist Anthony Rinaldi is reflected in a screen at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The U.S. stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Losses in technology and health care companies helped pull U.S. stocks lower Tuesday, placing the Dow Jones industrial average on track to end an eight-day winning streak. The broad sell-off followed a slide in bond prices, which drove up yields, paving the way for higher borrowing costs on mortgages and other loans. The prospect of higher interest rates weighed on homebuilders, while the pickup in bond yields sent shares in high-dividend paying stocks lower.

KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 index fell 25 points, or 1 percent, to 2,704 as of 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The Dow lost 245 points, or 1 percent, to 24,653. The Nasdaq composite dropped 78 points, or 1.1 percent, to 7,332. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks gave up 1 point, or 0.1 percent, to 1,598.

THE QUOTE: “We’re of the view that we’re not in a high-rate environment, we’re in a less-low rate environment,” said Erik Davidson, chief investment officer at Wells Fargo Private Bank. “So we’re not too concerned at these levels, but that’s definitely driving the market today.”

BOND YIELDS: Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 3.07 percent from 3 percent late Monday. That’s the highest level since July 2011 for the yield, which is used to set interest rates on mortgages and other kinds of loans. The surge came after the Commerce Department said retail sales climbed 0.3 percent in April, suggesting that spending by consumers is rebounding as expected after a weak first quarter. Bond yields tend to rise when investors expect faster economic growth and higher inflation.

The rise in bond yields pulled down shares in real estate investment trusts and other high-dividend paying stocks. Essex Property Trust fell 3 percent to $234.69.

HIT TO HOUSING: Homebuilders slumped amid expectations that higher mortgage rates may hurt home sales. Mortgage rates, which have been rising this year, tend to track the movement in the 10-year Treasury yield. D.R. Horton slid 7.1 percent to $40.40.

TECH TUMBLES: A slide in technology stocks weighed on the market. Nvidia fell 4.4 percent to $244.13.

UNHEALTHY TURN: Health care sector companies took some of the worst losses. Agilent Technologies slid 9.2 percent to $62.88.

WINTER BLUES: Home Depot dropped 1.4 percent to $188.36 after the home-improvement retailer reported weaker-than-expected sales, partly because of inclement weather, and said the second quarter got off to a slow start.

READY TO SHOP: Some retailers got a boost from the retail latest retail sales data. Bed Bath & Beyond rose 2.4 percent to $17.48. Ulta Beauty added 1.1 percent to $249.64.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude oil reversed an early side, rising 35 cents to settle at $71.31 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oil, added 20 cents to close at $78.43 a barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The dollar rose to 110.38 yen from 109.66 yen late Monday. The euro weakened to $1.1847 from $1.1944.

METALS: Precious metals prices slumped as the dollar strengthened. Gold fell $27.90, or 2.1 percent, to $1,290.30 an ounce. Silver dropped 38 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $16.27 an ounce. Copper slipped 4 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $3.06 a pound.

MARKETS OVERSEAS: In Europe, Germany’s DAX fell 0.1 percent after new data showed the country’s economy slowed in the first quarter. France’s CAC 40 inched up 0.2 percent. Britain’s FTSE 100 added 0.2 percent. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 edged down 0.2 percent. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.6 percent. South Korea’s Kospi slipped 0.7 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.2 percent.

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