US equity markets opened sharply lower on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq Composite dropping 2.1% at the open as technology shares led the decline.
The steep start signals renewed risk aversion among investors, extending the selling pressure that saw the index fall 1.32% to 26,166.60 on Monday.
Large-cap tech stocks continued to overwhelm broader market resilience, with semiconductor names facing particular headwinds.
The Nasdaq's weakness contrasts with European markets, where the Dutch AEX index managed to hold its ground despite the transatlantic tech selloff.
This divergence suggests that while US growth stocks are under scrutiny, European investors are maintaining a more defensive posture or finding support in non-tech sectors.
The focus remains squarely on the semiconductor sector, where memory chip maker Micron Technology and other peers are weighing heavily on index performance.