U.S. Stocks Decline Amid Weak Earnings and Trade Uncertainty

Major U.S. stock indices retreated as weak corporate earnings and lingering trade tensions weighed on investor sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 130 points, or 0.29%, dragged down by underperforming healthcare stocks. The S&P 500 slipped 0.11%, while the Nasdaq Composite edged 0.09% lower, both stepping back from recent record highs.

Corporate earnings took center stage, with mixed results across sectors. Boeing outperformed expectations, but Spotify's miss sent its shares plunging 12%. Healthcare giants Merck and UnitedHealth also declined despite meeting earnings targets, with UnitedHealth facing additional pressure from a disclosed legal probe.

Labor market concerns added to the bearish tone. June's JOLTS report showed 7.44 million job openings, missing estimates and declining from May's 7.7 million figure. The data suggests cooling in what had been a robust employment landscape.

Trade policy uncertainty intensified as the Justice Department announced crackdowns on tariff evasion. The MOVE comes amid ongoing questions about the implementation and impact of President Trump's trade policies, creating additional headwinds for market confidence.