US stocks open lower as Wall Street gauges coronavirus impact
Xinhua | Updated: 2020-12-09 00:46
NEW YORK - US stocks opened lower on Tuesday as the nation's surging new coronavirus infections continue to present a headwind.
Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 22.94 points, or 0.08 percent, to 30,046.85. The S&P 500 was down 9.19 points, or 0.25 percent, to 3,682.77. The Nasdaq Composite Index decreased 39.06 points, or 0.31 percent, to 12,480.88.
Seven of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors slipped in morning trading, with utilities down 0.7 percent, leading the laggards. Energy rose more than 1 percent, the best-performing group.
The downbeat market reactions came as COVID-19 infections across the United States continue to surge, forcing some states to reimpose restrictions.
The country has reported roughly 15 million cases in total with the death toll from the disease exceeding 283,800 as of Tuesday morning local time, showed a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Wall Street also weighed the prospects of the country's additional COVID-19 relief package.
On Monday, US equities closed mostly lower amid coronavirus concerns.
