Stocks Open Lower After Attacks

(AP) -- U.S. stocks edged lower in early trading Tuesday following the deadly attacks in Belgium. Airlines, cruise companies and travel booking sites were among the biggest decliners. European markets also fell slightly.

KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average fell 46 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,577 as of 10:05 a.m. Eastern Time. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost four points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,047. The Nasdaq composite dropped four points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,804.

BRUSSELS ATTACKS: At least 31 people were killed on Tuesday when bombs struck the Brussels airport and one of the city's metro stations. Belgium raised its terror alert to the highest level, diverting planes and trains and ordering people to stay where they were. Airports across Europe tightened security. Germany's DAX was down 0.2 percent, while the CAC-40 in France was 0.6 percent lower. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was down 0.2 percent. Belgium's BEL 20 index was down 0.2 percent.

STAYING PUT: Several travel-related companies were down as investors weighed the potential fallout from the Belgium attacks. Royal Caribbean Cruises fell $2.75, or 3.5 percent, to $75.48, while Carnival lost $1.53, or 3.1 percent, to $48.25. American Airlines Group shed $1.15, or 2.7 percent, to $42.32. Delta Air Lines fell $1.28, or 2.6 percent, to $48.84.

ROUGH QUARTER: Clothing and accessories maker G-III Apparel Group slid 19.4 percent after it reported earnings and sales that fell short of Wall Street's expectations. The stock lost $10.61 to $44.62.

UNCOMFORTABLE RESULTS: Mattress Firm dropped 11.6 percent after the bedding retailer also reported weak fourth-quarter results and forecast a smaller-than-expected annual profit. The stock shed $4.92 to $37.82.

STRONG OUTLOOK: Akorn surged 27.2 percent after the generic drugmaker reported preliminary 2015 financial results and have a strong profit forecast for this year. The stock gained $5.10 to $23.82.

ASIA'S DAY: Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 1.9 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed early gains, sliding 0.1 percent. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.4 percent, while Australia's S&P ASX 200 edged up 0.1 percent.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude was down 46 cents to $41.07 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oils, was down 21 cents to $41.33 a barrel in London.

BONDS AND CURRENCIES: U.S. government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.89 percent from 1.92 percent late Monday. The euro was down to $1.1219 from $1.1242, while the dollar fell to 111.68 yen from 112.08.

(KA)