US stocks have closed lower amid investor caution after Alcoa said that China’s economic slowdown was hitting aluminum consumption and Chevron slashed its earnings outlook.
Shares took little notice of the improved view of the US economy from the Federal Reserve’s regional “Beige Book” survey.
At the close on Wednesday the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 128.56 points, or 0.95 per cent, at 13,344.97.
The S&P 500 dropped 8.92 (0.62 per cent) to 1,432.56, while the tech-rich Nasdaq gave up 13.24 points (0.43 per cent) to 3,051.78.
Alcoa, down 4.6 per cent, and oil giant Chevron, down 4.2 per cent, dragged the Dow blue chips lower.
Alcoa turned in a $US143 million ($A140.78 million) third-quarter loss following the close of trade on Tuesday, though most of that was due to settling environmental and legal claims rather than operational losses.
The company cut its forecast for the growth of global aluminum demand to six per cent from seven per cent, citing specifically China’s slowdown.
Chevron meanwhile said its third-quarter earnings would be significantly lower than forecast, citing lower production and foreign exchange losses.
Yum Brands, the owner of fast-food chains Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, gained 8.0 per cent after raising its earnings forecast.
And Walmart, the US retailing titan, gained 1.7 per cent after detailing a moderately aggressive expansion plan and expressed confidence in the imminent holiday shopping season.
The company’s managers “are optimistic about the second half of the year and keeping the momentum going through the holidays,” said chief executive Mike Duke.
Major markets worldwide were lower on concerns that the world’s economy was frail and vulnerable to more turbulence.
“Global growth fears were once again the story as investors sold shares in response to the International Monetary Fund downgrading its forecast. The Fund now predicts the slowest global growth in three years,” said Briefing.com.
US bond prices pushed higher. The 10-year Treasury yield fell to 1.68 per cent from 1.72 per cent Tuesday, while the 30-year yield dropped to 2.88 per cent from 2.94 per cent.
