Dow Posts Biggest Monthly Loss Since 2010

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended August with the steepest monthly decline since 2010, after closing lower on Monday. The benchmark S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended August with the largest losses since 2012, after closing lower in a volatile session. Surging oil prices lifted energy stocks, but overall markets were weighed down by continued worries about China's slowing economy and the uncertainty over the timing of a rate increase by the Federal Reserve. Fed policy makers have left the option of a September rate hike wide open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 114.98 points, or 0.7%, to 16,528.03, and end August with a 6.6% loss, the largest percentage decline since May 2010. The S&P 500 closed 16.69 points, or 0.8% lower at 1,972.18, recording a 6.3% drop over the month, the steepest since May 2012. The Nasdaq Composite ended the day down 51.82 points, or 1.1% at 4,776.51 and fell 6.9% over the month.