The Dow dives more than 300 points

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York, U.S., November 15, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Thomson Reuters

• Stocks slid Thursday as Wall Street continued to worry about rising rates and trade tensions.

• A sell-off had shaved thousands of points from the major US indices last week.

• Watch US stocks trade in real time here.

Stocks tumbled for a second straight session Thursday as Wall Street fretted over Federal Reserve signals it interpreted as more hawkish than expected, cementing fears about rising rates that had led to a global sell-off last week.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 1.27%, or 325 points. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite shed 2.06%, and the S&P 500 was down 1.44%. 

"With recent market volatility, the sharp rise in interest rates, and the threat of ongoing trade tensions, many investors are beginning to shift their attention from trying to take advantage of the next opportunity to trying to safeguard their bull market gains and gird themselves for the next bear market," UBS analysts wrote in a recent research note. 

In the latest sign of a tightening labor market, US jobless claims fell more than expected to record lows last week. New applications for unemployment benefits dropped by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 210,000, the Labor Department said, a level not seen in 4-1/2 decades.

Some are worried the Federal Reserve could raise borrowing rates at a pace that may become slightly restrictive, in attempt to keep inflation in check and the economy from overheating. The central bank signaled in minutes out a day earlier that it was on track to gradually continue tightening, with one more hike this year and around three in 2019.

The greenback held close to its highest level in a week following the minutes, trading at 95.6 on the US dollar index. Treasury yields fell nearly three basis points, with the 10-year at 3.177% and the 30-year at 3.363%.

Separately, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin pulled out of a major investment conference in Saudi Arabia. Mnuchin was facing pressure to do so after the kingdom was accused of involvement in the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist and critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Stirring fears about ongoing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, industrial companies posted third-quarter earnings that fell short of expectations. Textron reported a revenue miss and dimmed its outlook. Packaging company Sealed Air Corp also lowered its profit guidance, citing rising input costs. 

Blackstone, on the other hand, topped Wall Street expectations. Paypal and American Express are set to report after the bell.

Oil prices extended losses to trade at their lowest level in nearly a month, as focus shifted away from worries about sanctions against Iran and to a steady rise in US stockpiles. Inventories have been climbing for a month, though analysts think data could be skewed by recent hurricanes and extreme weather delaying exports. West Texas Intermediate fell to about $68 per barrel, and Brent was at around $78. 

Dow Jones

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