Stock Markets March 3, 2026

U.S. Equities Slip as Industrials, Materials and Consumer Goods Drag Markets Lower

Dow posts a one-month low as volatility rises and select large-cap and small-cap names see wide swings

By Hana Yamamoto IBM VZ CRM CAT NKE
U.S. Equities Slip as Industrials, Materials and Consumer Goods Drag Markets Lower
IBM VZ CRM CAT NKE

U.S. stock indices closed lower on Tuesday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average recording a new one-month low. Losses were concentrated in Basic Materials, Industrials and Consumer Goods, while market breadth favored decliners across both the NYSE and Nasdaq. Volatility climbed and commodity prices moved sharply, with gold falling and crude oil rising.

Key Points

  • Major U.S. indices closed lower - the Dow fell 0.83% to a one-month low, the S&P 500 dropped 0.94%, and the Nasdaq slipped 1.02%.
  • Sector pressure was concentrated in Basic Materials, Industrials and Consumer Goods, contributing to broad-based declines across both the NYSE and Nasdaq.
  • Volatility increased - the CBOE Volatility Index rose 9.98% to 23.58 - while commodities diverged, with gold falling sharply and crude oil advancing.

U.S. equity markets finished the session in negative territory on Tuesday, pressured by declines in Basic Materials, Industrials and Consumer Goods. At the New York Stock Exchange close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.83% to a new one-month low. The S&P 500 declined 0.94%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.02%.


Index movers and notable large-cap moves

Among Dow components, International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) was the best performer, rising 2.51% - a gain of 6.02 points - to finish at 245.39. Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ) added 1.78%, up 0.89 points to end at 50.87, and Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM) climbed 1.62%, or 3.12 points, to 196.07 at the close.

At the other end of the Dow, Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) led losses, sliding 3.95% - down 29.75 points - to 722.58. Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) fell 2.64%, losing 1.61 points to close at 59.40, and Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) dropped 2.45%, or 5.62 points, to 224.12.


S&P 500 leaders and laggards

On the S&P 500, Best Buy Co Inc (NYSE:BBY) was the top gainer, up 7.01% to 65.91. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) rose 6.74% to settle at 120.80, and Akamai Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:AKAM) gained 4.55% to close at 102.08.

Conversely, Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU) posted a steep loss of 7.99%, ending the day at 379.68. Newmont Goldcorp Corp (NYSE:NEM) dropped 7.76% to 118.50, and NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG) declined 7.70% to finish at 162.06.


Notable moves on the Nasdaq Composite

Smaller-cap and micro-cap names on the Nasdaq saw particularly large percentage moves. MOBIX LABS, INC (NASDAQ:MOBX) led gains with a 521.47% advance to 1.10. Turbo Energy SA ADR (NASDAQ:TURB) rose 110.22% to settle at 2.88, and Edesa Biotech Inc (NASDAQ:EDSA) gained 89.91% to close at 4.33.

On the downside, Iterum Therapeutics PLC (NASDAQ:ITRM) plunged 46.81% to 0.15, Scworx Corp (NASDAQ:WORX) lost 45.08% to settle at 0.18, and Hitek Global (NASDAQ:HKIT) fell 32.80% to 1.25 at the close.


Market breadth and intra-market extremes

Decliners outpaced advancers on both major exchanges. On the NYSE, 2,122 stocks fell while 652 advanced and 47 finished unchanged. On the Nasdaq, 2,333 issues closed lower, 1,034 rose and 186 were unchanged.

Several individual stocks hit notable price milestones during the session. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) moved to a 52-week high, rising 6.74% or 7.63 points to 120.80. Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ) reached a three-year high, up 1.78% or 0.89 to 50.87. Iterum Therapeutics PLC (NASDAQ:ITRM) traded down to an all-time low, losing 46.81% or 0.13 to 0.15. Edesa Biotech Inc (NASDAQ:EDSA) climbed to a 52-week high, gaining 89.91% or 2.05 to 4.33.


Volatility, commodities and currencies

The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures implied volatility on S&P 500 options, rose 9.98% to 23.58, marking a new three-month high for the gauge.

In commodities trading, April Gold Futures moved lower, down 4.01% or 213.25 to $5,098.35 per troy ounce. Crude oil for April delivery advanced 4.72%, or $3.36, to $74.59 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract climbed 5.07% or $3.94 to trade at $81.68 a barrel.

In foreign exchange, the euro weakened against the dollar with EUR/USD down 0.65% to 1.16. The dollar strengthened versus the yen, with USD/JPY up 0.14% to 157.69. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.69% to 99.02.


Context and close

Tuesday's session closed with broad-based selling pressure across multiple sectors, most prominently Basic Materials, Industrials and Consumer Goods. Market participants ended the day with heavier downside participation, higher implied volatility and divergent moves between commodity markets - with gold notably lower and crude higher.

These price actions and the intra-market divergences underscore uneven positioning across market capitalizations and sectors heading into subsequent trading sessions.

Risks

  • Rising implied volatility as indicated by the VIX increase to 23.58 - this elevates near-term uncertainty for equity markets and derivatives traders.
  • Steep declines in specific names (for example Micron -7.99% and Iterum -46.81%) highlight potential stock-specific risk and replay liquidity stresses in small-cap segments.
  • Commodity price swings - gold down 4.01% and crude oil higher by over 4% - may feed through to sector earnings and influence market sentiment for materials and energy stocks.

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