Stocks Sink as Trade War Heats Up

NEW YORK (AP) -- Global stock indexes are falling Wednesday after the Trump administration released a list of $200 billion in goods that could be hit with tariffs and China said it would to retaliate. In the U.S., industrial companies and basic materials makers are taking some of the worst losses.

KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 index lost 14 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,779 as of 10 a.m. Eastern time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 144 points, or 0.6 percent, to 24,775. The Nasdaq composite fell 43 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,715. The Russell 2000, an index of smaller and more U.S.-focused companies, gave up 8 points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,687.

The S&P 500 had risen for four days in a row and it closed at a five-month high Tuesday.

TARIFF THREATS: The Trump administration's list includes vacuum cleaners, furniture and car and bicycle parts but not U.S.-branded smartphones and laptops. It is scheduled to make a decision on the potential tariffs after Aug. 31.

China's government said it will take "firm and forceful measures" if the new tariffs are enacted. Chipmakers, which make large portions of their sales in China, took some of the worst losses. Nvidia fell 1.8 percent to $248.82 and Micron Technology lost 3 percent to $54.05.

Boeing fell 1.1 percent to $343.45 and United Technologies sank 1.6 percent to $125.03. Airlines took sharp losses, with American down 4.1 percent to $37.50.

WHAT NEXT? On Friday the U.S. and China put 25 percent taxes on $34 billion in imports and President Donald Trump has said nearly all imports from China, some $500 billion in goods, could be taxed. China imported only $130 billion in goods from the U.S. last year but could retaliate through other means including regulatory moves and investigations of U.S. companies.

Indexes in Europe and Asia took steeper losses as investors worried the worsening trade dispute will hamper the growth of the global economy.

The trade dispute stems from Washington's complaint that Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology and concerns that plans for state-led development of Chinese champions in robots and other fields might erode American industrial leadership.

OVERSEAS: France's CAC 40 lost 1.3 percent and the DAX in Germany fell 1.5 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 index dropped 1.1 percent.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 1.2 percent and South Korea's Kospi lost 0.6 percent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1.3 percent.

PRICES RISING: The Labor Department said wholesale prices kept rising in June. Excluding food and gas prices, which can be volatile, the department's index of producer prices has risen 2.8 percent over the last year. That's the fastest pace in six years and a sign inflation is picking up after years of weakness.

Investors have worried that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates more quickly as inflation increases. The Fed wants inflation to stay at around 2 percent, but it suggested recently that it won't act too quickly if inflation goes above the 2 percent mark.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude fell 1 percent to $73.42 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, lost 2 percent to $77.23 a barrel in London.

BONDS: Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.85 percent from 2.87 percent.

CURRENCIES: The dollar fell to 111.22 yen from 111.28 yen. The euro edged up to $1.1750 from $1.1745.

(BE)