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U.S. stocks open lower after Brussels attacks

Xinhua, March 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

U.S. stocks opened lower Tuesday as worries about explosions in Brussels, Belgium weighed on investor sentiment.

Official data showed that at least 34 people were killed in explosions on Tuesday at Brussels airport and on a city subway train.

European equities slid after the explosions, with travel sector stocks including airlines and hotels falling the most.

Oil prices also traded lower in the morning session Tuesday after the blasts prompted a flight towards so-called safe-haven assets such as gold.

On the economic front, after increasing to the highest annual rate in six months, U.S. total existing-home sales dropped 7.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.08 million in February, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 54.41 points, or 0.31 percent, to 17,569.46. The S&P 500 lost 8.66 points, or 0.42 percent, to 2,042.94. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 25.08 points, or 0.52 percent, to 4,783.80.

On Monday, U.S. stocks closed slightly higher amid an oil recovery, as Wall Street turned cautious after five consecutive weeks of solid gains. Endi