U.S. stocks opened sharply lower on Wednesday, with the Dow industrials dropping more than 250 basis points after the opening bell, as geopolitical concerns overseas weighed on risk sentiment. North Korea’s announcement that it had successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb late Tuesday rattled markets, while a continuing retreat in oil prices pulled down the energy sector. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 226 points, or 1.3%, to trade at 16,930 after the opening bell, while the S&P 500 index declined 26 points, or 1.3%, to trade at 1,990. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite index dropped 63 points, or 1.3%, to trade at 4,829. The S&P’s energy sector was the worst performer on the index, down 2.3%.
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From:: Stock Market News