US stocks tumbled on Thursday as a wave of selling hit major technology names and stirred fresh volatility across Wall Street. By the closing bell the Dow had dropped 798 points, a decline of 1.65 percent. The S and P 500 fell 1.66 percent and the Nasdaq Composite slid 2.29 percent, marking the worst day for all three indexes since October 10.
The pullback came as investors tried to understand how long it will take for a backlog of economic data to be released following the end of the historic government shutdown. For weeks key indicators were delayed, leaving markets without the usual guidance on consumer activity, inflation, manufacturing trends and other readings that help shape expectations for monetary policy.
Congress passed a funding bill on Wednesday evening and President Donald Trump signed it later that night, formally ending the record breaking shutdown. While the reopening of government agencies provides relief, the market now faces an unclear timeline for the return of routine data that influences trading decisions and the Federal Reserve’s economic outlook.
In a note to clients, Principal Asset Management chief global strategist Seema Shah said the absence of updated figures had contributed to rising unease. She added that each delayed report or policy update is now likely to have an amplified effect as investors try to rebuild their understanding of the economy after weeks of limited information.
The decline on Thursday echoed earlier episodes of anxiety, including the October selloff driven by renewed concerns over United States China trade relations. Analysts say the market remains sensitive to any signals about global growth, corporate earnings, or changes in central bank strategy.
With data releases expected to resume in the coming weeks, traders are preparing for a period of choppy movement as the market adjusts to a new flow of information.
