US Markets Slide On Jitters Over Covid, Tax, Economy

US stocks ended sharply lower in a broad sell-off on Friday, ending a week buffeted by strong economic data, corporate tax hike worries, the Delta Covid variant, and possible shifts in the US Federal Reserve's timeline for tapering asset purchases.

All three major US stock indexes lost ground, with the Nasdaq Composite Index weighed down as rising US Treasury yields pressured market-leading growth stocks.

They also posted weekly losses, with the S&P index suffering its biggest two-week drop since February.

"The market is struggling with prospects for tighter fiscal policy due to tax increases, and tighter monetary policy due to Fed tapering," said David Carter, chief investment officer at Lenox Wealth Advisors in New York.

"Equity markets are also a little softer due to today's weak Consumer Sentiment data," Carter added. "It's triggering concerns that the Delta variant could slow economic growth."

A potential hike in corporate taxes could eat into earnings also weigh on markets, with leading Democrats seeking to raise the top tax rate on corporations to 26.5 percent from the current 21 percent.

While consumer sentiment steadied this month it remains depressed, according to a University of Michigan report, as Americans postpone purchases while inflation remains high.

Inflation is likely to be a major issue next week, when the Federal Open Markets Committee holds its two-day monetary policy meeting. Market participants will be watching closely for changes in nuance which could signal a shift in the Fed's tapering timeline.

"It has been a week of mixed economic data and we are focused clearly on what will come out of the Fed meeting next week," said Bill Northey, senior investment director at US Bank Wealth Management in Helena, Montana.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5 percent to 34,584; the S&P 500 lost 0.9 percent to 4,432, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.9 percent to 15,043.

Covid vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna dropped 1.3 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively, as US health officials moved the debate over booster doses to a panel of independent experts.

Volume and volatility spiked toward the end of the session due to "triple witching," which is the quarterly, simultaneous expiration of stock options, stock index futures, and stock index options contracts.

Volume on US exchanges was 15.51 billion shares, compared with the 9.70 billion average over the last 20 trading days.

Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 1.97-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.00-to-1 ratio favored advancers.

The S&P 500 posted seven new 52-week highs and two new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 67 new highs and 82 new lows. (Reuters)