U.S. stocks fell as trade relations between the U.S. and China turned rockier, with the energy and financial sectors under pressure.

Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was lower by about 62 points. The S&P 500 was down about 0.6%. The Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.4%.

Escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China rattled overseas markets. The U.S. over the weekend imposed tariffs on Chinese-made tires, while China said it planned an antidumping investigation into U.S. sales of chicken and auto products.

In Asia, most markets lost ground. The Nikkei tumbled 2.3% on concerns that the strengthened yen could put a dent in exporters’ earnings. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended 1.1% lower at 20932.20, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.4% and South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1%. Major benchmarks in Europe also fell.  Read the rest of this entry »