Stocks Ended Lower, Oil Prices Declined

U.S. stocks ended sharply lower on Tuesday as investors considered prospects of a drawn-out economic recovery alongside an ongoing rise in virus cases. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 396.85 points, or 1.51%, to 25,890.18. The S&P 500 declined 34.40 points, or 1.08%, to 3,145.32. The Nasdaq Composite declined 89.76 points, or 0.86%, to 10,343.89.

Oil futures ended with a modest loss on Tuesday, with the increase in coronavirus cases in parts of the world continuing to pressure prospects for energy demand. West Texas Intermediate crude for August fell by a penny, 0.02%, to settle at $40.62 a barrel. Brent oil for September declined by 2 cents, or 0.05%, to $43.08 a barrel.