US equity markets opened lower on Tuesday, with broad-based selling in the technology sector leading the decline.
The pullback is driven by a sharp rise in crude oil prices following an escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Investors are also weighing mixed signals from the software sector, where recent earnings from major players have raised questions about the return on massive AI investments.
The Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones Industrial Average both slipped at the open, continuing a downturn that has seen tech stocks underperform.
The sell-off reflects growing caution among investors as they navigate the dual pressures of higher energy costs and uncertainty in the tech sector.
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have intensified, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commenting on the situation.