Russell 2000

The "Trump rally" has been running since the November 8 vote as investors bet US President-elect Donald Trump's policies will boost economic growth and inflation.

Eight of the 11 major S&P 500 sectors were lower, but the losses were offset by a 0.85 per cent rise in financials and gains in materials and energy.

The S&P 500 consumer staples index rose 0.7 per cent, giving the biggest boost to the broader index. That was followed by the consumer discretionary sector, which gained 0.3 per cent.

One sign that stocks could be rebuilding a base is the turnaround in small-cap names. The recent outperformance of the Russell 2000, an index more closely associated with US-based companies, would suggest investors haven't lost faith in the US economy, despite lousy overseas growth and concerns about weak inflation trends.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 173.45 points, or 1.06 per cent, to 16,141.74, the S&P 500 lost 15.21 points, or 0.81 per cent, to 1,862.49 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 11.85 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 4,215.32.

In Asia, Japan's Topix shed 1.6 per cent while the Nikkei dropped 1.4 per cent. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.4 per cent, while Australia's main index lost 1.1 per cent.

US stocks were down in morning trading on Tuesday, pressured by a second straight day of weak data out of Germany, the euro zone's largest economy, but indices bounced off of session lows.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose for the fourth straight day and ended at another all-time high. It closed above 1,900 for the first time on Friday. Small-company stocks and other riskier parts of the market, like Internet and biotechnology companies, also gained after being beaten down over the past few months.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 10.02 points or 0.06 per cent, to end at 16,543.08. The S&P 500 gained 4.46 points or 0.24 per cent, to 1,892.49. The Nasdaq Composite added 22.81 points or 0.55 per cent, to close at 4,154.34.

There are many reasons for the sharp underperformance of small-cap stocks in the past six weeks, but the recent correction may be winding down, which means investors worried about a broader selloff might be able to breathe more easily.

Wall Street extended its losses into a second day on Thursday as weaker-than-expected earnings from Wal-Mart and a selloff in momentum stocks overshadowed positive economic reports.

The S&P 500 briefly rose above 1,900 for the first time early in the session, but quickly gave back some of its gains. In contrast, the Russell 2000 index of small-cap stocks fell 1.1 per cent.

The Dow and the S&P 500 ended at record highs on Monday while the Nasdaq rallied as shares of internet and biotech shares advanced.

The major U.S. stock indexes traded higher until early afternoon, boosted by positive car sales and factory orders. The S&P 500 rose as high as 1,624.26 early in the session.

Wall Street was little changed in early trading on Tuesday with Home Depot at a record high and buoying the blue-chips while investors eyed congressional testimony from Fed chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday.

The "Trump rally" has been running since the November 8 vote as investors bet US President-elect Donald Trump's policies will boost economic growth and inflation.

Eight of the 11 major S&P 500 sectors were lower, but the losses were offset by a 0.85 per cent rise in financials and gains in materials and energy.

The S&P 500 consumer staples index rose 0.7 per cent, giving the biggest boost to the broader index. That was followed by the consumer discretionary sector, which gained 0.3 per cent.

One sign that stocks could be rebuilding a base is the turnaround in small-cap names. The recent outperformance of the Russell 2000, an index more closely associated with US-based companies, would suggest investors haven't lost faith in the US economy, despite lousy overseas growth and concerns about weak inflation trends.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 173.45 points, or 1.06 per cent, to 16,141.74, the S&P 500 lost 15.21 points, or 0.81 per cent, to 1,862.49 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 11.85 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 4,215.32.

In Asia, Japan's Topix shed 1.6 per cent while the Nikkei dropped 1.4 per cent. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.4 per cent, while Australia's main index lost 1.1 per cent.

US stocks were down in morning trading on Tuesday, pressured by a second straight day of weak data out of Germany, the euro zone's largest economy, but indices bounced off of session lows.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose for the fourth straight day and ended at another all-time high. It closed above 1,900 for the first time on Friday. Small-company stocks and other riskier parts of the market, like Internet and biotechnology companies, also gained after being beaten down over the past few months.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 10.02 points or 0.06 per cent, to end at 16,543.08. The S&P 500 gained 4.46 points or 0.24 per cent, to 1,892.49. The Nasdaq Composite added 22.81 points or 0.55 per cent, to close at 4,154.34.

There are many reasons for the sharp underperformance of small-cap stocks in the past six weeks, but the recent correction may be winding down, which means investors worried about a broader selloff might be able to breathe more easily.

Wall Street extended its losses into a second day on Thursday as weaker-than-expected earnings from Wal-Mart and a selloff in momentum stocks overshadowed positive economic reports.

The S&P 500 briefly rose above 1,900 for the first time early in the session, but quickly gave back some of its gains. In contrast, the Russell 2000 index of small-cap stocks fell 1.1 per cent.

The Dow and the S&P 500 ended at record highs on Monday while the Nasdaq rallied as shares of internet and biotech shares advanced.

The major U.S. stock indexes traded higher until early afternoon, boosted by positive car sales and factory orders. The S&P 500 rose as high as 1,624.26 early in the session.

Wall Street was little changed in early trading on Tuesday with Home Depot at a record high and buoying the blue-chips while investors eyed congressional testimony from Fed chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday.