The S&P 500 fell 0.71 per cent to 2,595.96 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.81 per cent at 6,885.06.

The S&P 500 index showed two new 52-week highs and 20 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 36 new highs and 120 new lows.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move.

General Nutrition Corp.(GNC) traded 0.6% lower after the vitamin retailer said it would expand into Australia in a partnership (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gnc-shares-jump-59-after-company-unveils-plans-to-expand-into-australia-2018-04-05) with Australian health products distributor, Rapid Nutrition. (AAPL - Free Report), Netflix Inc.

MARKET INSIGHT: The latest Trump tariff announcement means the "trade war rhetoric is unlikely to leave the picture anytime soon", said Stephen Innes, head of Asian trading at OANDA. Kate Warne, an investment strategist for Edward Jones, said the step by China is small but significant. The tech-stock packed Nasdaq, which cratered 2.7% Monday and sank back into the red for the year, rallied 1%.

The president has for days been assailing Amazon, lately focusing on a "scam" contract with the U.S. Postal Service that has actually been judged profitable for the post office. A stronger yen weighed on exporters, with Canon and Panasonic ending down over 1%. "And then we slammed on the brakes when we became concerned there could be a policy mistake in the future". Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1 percent lower to 5,745.60.

CURRENCIES: The dollar slipped to 106.49 yen from 106.62 yen in late trading Tuesday.

Within the biotech sector, Alkermes (ALKS) posted a steep loss after the FDA rejected the biopharmaceutical company's application for approval of an experimental depression treatment. This was the third consecutive decline in sales. Tyson Foods, which could see its sales in China dip as prices rise, slumped $4.42, or 6 percent, to $68.77. Stock markets entered correction territory in February due to high inflationary expectations.

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U.S. stocks are tumbling Monday after China officially raised import duties on U.S. pork, apples and other products.

Earlier this year, credit bureau Equifax announced a massive data breach affecting 2 out of every 3 Americans.

While the UK's FTSE 100 Index is just below the unchanged line, the French CAC 40 Index is down by 0.3% and the German DAX Index is down by 0.5%. Will it make a difference for users- and investors?