US markets end lower as weak housing starts data weigh

19 May 2021 Evaluate

The US markets wiped out earlier gains and closed at their session lower on Tuesday as Big Tech stocks reversed lower, while data showing housing starts dropped sharply last month also weighed on sentiment. Data from the Commerce Department showed housing starts in the US tumbled 9.5 percent to an annualized rate of 1.569 million in April, sliding from a 15-year high of 1.733 million recorded a month earlier. Street had expected housing starts to come in at 1.71 million in April. Another data from the Commerce Department showed building permits in the US rose by 0.3 percent to 1.76 million in April, from the previous month's 1.755 million. Street had expected building permits to rise to 1.77 million in April.

Further, investors looked ahead to the release of the minutes of the Federal Reserve's April monetary policy meeting for clues about monetary tightening. Besides, investors digested better-than-expected earnings from big retailers. Walmart shares jumped more than 2% after reporting strong grocery sales and e-commerce growth for the quarter. Macy’s posted a surprise profit and hiked its full-year outlook, but its shares erased earlier gains and dipped 0.4%. Home Depot reported earnings of $3.86 a share for the previous quarter, much higher than the $3.08 expected by Street. Net sales surged 32.7%, more than expected. The stock ended the session 1% lower.

Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 267.13 points or 0.78 percent to 34,060.66, Nasdaq dropped 75.41 points or 0.56 percent to 13,303.64 and S&P 500 was down by 35.46 points or 0.85 percent to 4,127.83.

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