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Indexes end down as Iran launches missiles at Israel; defense shares rise

U.S. stocks ended lower, with the Nasdaq losing more than 1%, on Tuesday as investors grew more cautious after Iran fired rockets at Israel.

Iran launched the salvo of ballistic missiles in retaliation for Israel's project against Tehran's Hezbollah allies. In action, U.S. President Joe Biden directed the U.S. military to aid Israel's defense and shoot down rockets targeted at Israel, the White House National Security Council said.

While the more comprehensive market fell, shares of energy companies increased in addition to U.S. oil costs, which settled up 2.4%. Shares of Exxon Mobil got 2.3%.

Defense stocks likewise rose, consisting of Northrop Grumman , which rallied 3%, and Lockheed Martin, up 3.6%. The S&P 500 aerospace and defense index climbed to a record high. Utilities were up 0.8%.

Airline company shares fell, consisting of Delta Air Lines, which was down 1.6%.

Investors played it safe following the Middle East news, however indexes ended off their lows of the day.

If we do see further escalation I could see continued market weak point since we just don't know how far this is going to go, stated Peter Tuz, president of Chase Financial investment Counsel in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The level of threat has increased. The marketplaces have actually had a. good year and people can get frightened out of the marketplace depending. on what occurs over the next couple of weeks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 173.18. points, or 0.41%, to 42,156.97, the S&P 500 lost 53.73. points, or 0.93%, at 5,708.75 and the Nasdaq Composite. dropped 278.81 points, or 1.53%, to 17,910.36.

On Monday, the three major U.S. indexes scored strong. gains for September and for the quarter.

CBOE's market volatility index, Wall Street's worry gauge,. increased.

Data launched early on Tuesday revealed U.S. task openings. rebounded in August, while the Institute for Management Supply's. ( ISM) report revealed production activity stood at 47.2 in. September, versus price quotes of 47.5.

Investors were also cautious ahead of U.S. jobless claims. information on Thursday and regular monthly payrolls on Friday.

Traders are pricing in a 38% chance that the Federal Reserve. will decrease rates of interest by 50 basis points in November, up. from bets of around 35% on Monday however below 58% a week back,. CME Group's FedWatch Tool revealed.

The U.S. central bank on Sept. 18 cut rates by 50 basis. points, starting a brand-new reducing cycle.

Investors also kept track of a port strike on the East Coast and. the Gulf Coast, stopping the circulation of about half the nation's. ocean shipping.

The strike that began on Tuesday is not expected to. trigger international supply issues as deep or serious as during the. COVID-19 pandemic, however still develops more economic unpredictability. for Fed policymakers to examine.

Decreasing concerns surpassed advancing ones on the NYSE by a. 1.32-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.36-to-1 ratio preferred decliners.

The S&P 500 published 51 new 52-week highs and 2 new. lows; the Nasdaq Composite taped 75 new highs and 137 new. lows.

Volume on U.S. exchanges was 13.16 billion shares,. compared with the 11.98 billion average for the full session. over the last 20 trading days.

(source: Reuters)