US markets end lower on Wednesday

31 Mar 2022 Evaluate

The US markets ended lower on Wednesday amid fading hopes about peace talks between Russia and Ukraine after the former continued to shell certain areas of Ukraine despite having promised to scale down military operations on Tuesday. Rising worries about inflation and imminent aggressive monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve weighed as well on sentiment. Besides, profit taking after three successive days of gains pushed the Dow to a weak close. The Nasdaq, which scored strong gains in the previous two sessions, ended with a more pronounced loss, as chip stocks fell sharply.

On the economic data front, a report released by payroll processor ADP showed private sector employment in the US jumped by 455,000 jobs in March after surging by an upwardly revised 486,000 jobs in February. Street had expected private sector employment to climb by 450,000 jobs compared to the addition of 475,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month. Data released by the Commerce Department showed the U.S. economy grew by slightly less than previously estimated in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Commerce Department said real gross domestic product increased by 6.9% in the fourth quarter, reflecting a modest downward revision from the previously estimated 7% spike. Street had expected GDP growth to be unrevised.

Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 65.38 points or 0.19 percent to 35,228.81, Nasdaq dropped 177.36 points or 1.21 percent to 14,442.28 and S&P 500 was down by 29.15 points or 0.63 percent to 4,602.45.

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