Markets Right Now: Stocks drop, led by technology companies

The latest on developments in financial markets (All times local):

4:00 p.m.

Stocks are ending broadly lower on Wall Street, led by declines in technology companies and banks, two of the highest-performing sectors over the last year.

Retailers were also falling Thursday. Macy's slumped 10 percent after reporting its 10th straight decline in a key sales measure.

Simmering tensions between the U.S. and North Korea continued to weigh on investors. The VIX, a measure of how much volatility investors expect, jumped to its highest level since May.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 35 points, or 1.4 percent, to 2,438, its biggest drop since mid-May.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 204 points, or 0.9 percent, to 21,844. The Nasdaq lost 135 points, or 2.1 percent, to 6,216.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.20 percent.

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11:45 a.m.

Stocks are falling in midday trading on Wall Street, led by declines in technology companies and banks.

Retailers were also falling Thursday. Macy's slumped 9.7 percent after reporting its 10th straight decline in a key sales measure.

Simmering tensions between the U.S. and North Korea continued to weigh on investors. The Vix, a measure of how much volatility investors expect in stocks, jumped to its highest level since May.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 24 points, or 0.9 percent, to 2,450.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 123 points, or 0.6 percent, to 21,923. The Nasdaq composite lost 96 points, or 1.5 percent, to 6,256.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.23 percent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening lower on Wall Street as investors find little to like in the latest batch of corporate earnings.

Simmering tensions with North Korea were also weighing on the market in early trading Thursday.

Macy's slumped 4.3 percent after reporting its 10th straight decline in a key sales measure. Meal kit company Blue Apron plunged 14.6 percent after reporting a decline in customers.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 10 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,463.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 85 points, or 0.2 percent, to 21,962. The Nasdaq composite lost 36 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,315.