· The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 30.23 points, or 0.13 percent, to end at 23,409.47, the S&P 500 lost 5.97 points, or 0.23 percent, to2,578.87 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 19.72 points, or 0.29 percent, to 6,737.87.
U.S. stock indexes fell on Tuesday as General Electric shares plunged for a second straight day and a drop in crude oil prices hit energy stocks.
GE fell 5.9 percent to $17.90 in the largest daily volume in two years as investors wondered if a massive overhaul of the company by new Chief Executive John Flannery will be enough to revive the industrial conglomerate.
· The Nikkei 225 began Wednesday 0.96 percent lower on the back of five consecutive negative sessions. Most sectors fell, with energy-related stocks recording steep losses after oil prices slid nearly 2 percent on Tuesday: Inpex tumbled 3.27 percent and Japan Petroleum Exploration sank 3.4 percent.
Across the Korean Strait, the Kospi was off 0.46 percent in the morning session. Blue-chip tech stocks edged down, but automakers held above the flat line: Samsung Electronics was off 0.61 percent and Hyundai Motor rose 0.62 percent.
The cautious sentiment from the last session continued through Asia's Wednesday trading day, with energy-related plays in the region falling on weakening oil prices.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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