LIVE MARKETS-US indexes fall early as Walmart forecast disappoints

ReutersFeb 20, 2025 3:22 PM

Major US indexes lower early; Dow off most, down ~0.9%
Jan leading index Chg MM -0.3% vs -0.1% est
Euro STOXX 600 index off ~0.1%
Dollar down; gold ~flat; crude gains; bitcoin up ~1%
U.S. 10-Year Treasury yield dips to ~4.51%

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U.S. INDEXES FALL EARLY AS WALMART FORECAST DISAPPOINTS

The three major U.S. stock indexes are lower in early trading Thursday, with shares of Walmart WMT.N down more than 6% after the retailer gave a sales forecast that disappointed.

Walmart anticipates consumers to pull back after several quarters of solid growth.

Consumer discretionary .SPLRCD is leading declines among S&P 500 .SPX sectors. Consumer staples .SPLRCS, which Walmart is member of, is also among weaker groups.

Healthcare .SPXHC is posting the biggest rise.

Investors are also assessing the latest comments from President Donald Trump on tariffs. He said Wednesday he will announce tariffs related to lumber, cars, semiconductors, chips and pharmaceuticals "over the next month or sooner."

Here is the early market snapshot:

(Caroline Valetkevitch)

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