US markets end lower on Monday

20 Dec 2022 Evaluate

The US markets ended lower on Monday, extending their recent losses, as rising concerns over a recession amid rising interest rates hurt sentiment. The Federal Reserve last week indicated it plans to continue raising interest rates next year, leading to worries the aggressive monetary policy tightening will tip the economy into a recession. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank will require substantially more evidence inflation is on a sustained downward trend before halting its rate hikes. Technology stocks posted sharp losses as bond yields rose amid bets the central bank will continue with its rate hikes. Shares of Apple Inc., Microsoft and Alphabet all ended notably lower. Meta Platforms shed more than 4 percent, weighed down by an announcement from the European Commission that it could impose a fine of up to 10 percent of the company's annual global turnover if there is an evidence showing Meta has infringed antitrust laws.

Disney shares dropped nearly 5 percent after its Avatar. The Way of the Water reported lower than expected sales in its opening weekend. On the economic data front, homebuilder confidence in the US has unexpectedly seen a continued deterioration in the month of December, according to a report released by the National Association of Home Builders. The report showed the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index fell to 31 in December from 33 in November. The decreased surprised participants, who had expected the index to rise to 36. The housing market index declined for the twelfth straight month, falling to its lowest reading since mid-2012, with the exception of the onset of the pandemic in the spring of 2020.

Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 162.92 points or 0.49 percent to 32,757.54, Nasdaq dropped 159.38 points or 1.49 percent to 10,546.03 and S&P 500 was down by 34.7 points or 0.9 percent to 3,817.66.

© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×