US stock indexes fell about 1% on Thursday, dragged down by technology heavyweights, as investors fretted over a rise in the cases of coronavirus and its economic impact. "The story suggests that the virus has spread to medical workers and people who help clean hospitals, so the markets are shook up by that," said Keith Bliss, senior vice-president at Cuttone & Co in New York. Technology stocks led the slide, with Microsoft Corp down 2.5% and Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc dropping 1.3% each. Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 1.23-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and for a 1.68-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded 33 new 52-week highs and four new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 118 new highs and 45 new lows.

Source: Mint February 20, 2020 17:26 UTC