US equity markets opened lower on Friday, extending a period of selling pressure that has weighed on major benchmarks throughout the week.

The S&P 500 started the session down 0.6%, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 1.1% at the open.

32 points as selling intensified across technology-heavy indices.

Semiconductor maker Micron also saw its shares decline in early trading.

The downturn marks a continuation of the volatility that has characterized US markets recently.

On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered a sharp decline, dropping 395.32 points as selling intensified across technology-heavy indices.

The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 also retreated significantly during that session.