US equity markets are trading lower on Friday, with the Nasdaq Composite leading the decline as investors remain wary of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The broad-based selling pressure is particularly acute in the technology sector, where chipmakers and streaming giant Netflix are among the worst performers in the session.
The downturn marks a continuation of the weakness that has characterized the start of the third quarter.
US markets opened in negative territory earlier in the week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq both slipping as risk appetite cooled following a record-breaking second quarter.
The current session sees that caution deepen, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq bearing the brunt of the sell-off.
Geopolitical uncertainty continues to act as a headwind for growth-oriented assets.