NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks fell during midday trading as energy and materials companies declined along with the price of oil and precious metals.
Major international markets also fell Tuesday, dragged down by a weak economic forecast from the Bank of Japan.
Drug companies fell sharply on investor concerns that it will become more difficult for the companies to hike prices.
Oil was down 3 percent, its second substantial loss in a row.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 24 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,204 as of 11:55 a.m. Eastern time.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 9 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,009. The Nasdaq composite fell 26 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,724.
Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.16 percent.
