Tuesday, the Dow lost 200.38 points (1.09%) to finish at 18,128.66, the NASDAQ closed 81.89 points (1.54%) lower at 5,246.79, and the S&P 500 decreased 26.93 points (1.24%) to 2,136.73. The Russell 2000 was down 23.14 points (1.85%) at 1,227.62, and the Wilshire 5000 fell 282.90 points (1.26%) to 22,237.71.

On the NYSE, 3.1 billion shares changed hands, with declining issues outnumbering advancing issues more than 6 to 1. On the NASDAQ, 2.9 billion shares traded, with a 5 to 1 lead for decliners.

The price of the 10-year Treasury note decreased 12/32, bringing its yield up to 1.765%. The price of the 30-year Treasury bond fell 31/32, increasing its yield to 2.504%.

ON THIS DATE: In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, sighted Watling Island in the Bahamas. He believed that he had found Asia while attempting to find a Western ocean route to India. The same day he claimed the land for Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain. In 1792, the first monument honoring Christopher Columbus was dedicated in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1810, Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The royalty invited the public to attend the event which became an annual celebration that later became known as Oktoberfest. In 1892, in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Columbus landing, the original version of the Pledge of Allegiance was first recited in public schools. In 1933, the U.S. Department of Justice acquired Alcatraz Island from the U.S. Army. In 1989, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a statutory federal ban on the destruction of the American flag. In 1994, the Magellan space probe ended its four-year mission to Venus for the purpose of mapping. In 1998, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Online Copyright Bill. In 1999, Rob Reiner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: “To me, old age is always fifteen years older than I am.”―Bernard Baruch, financier, philanthropist and political consultant