The US Services ISM (Institute for Supply Management) Business Activity Index rose to 51.9% in April from 51.2% in March, with a forecast of 51.8%. Meanwhile, the number of private sector jobs in the US increased more than expected in April, with a rise of 296,000 positions, while experts had anticipated an increase of 148,000.

At the close of the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell by 0.80%, the S&P 500 index dropped by 0.70%, and the NASDAQ Composite index declined by 0.46%.

Among the Dow Jones components, the leaders in growth at the end of today's trading were shares of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), which rose by 0.88 points (2.96%), closing at 30.65. Verizon Communications Inc's (NYSE:VZ) quotations increased by 0.31 points (0.82%), finishing the trading session at 37.98. Merck & Company Inc's (NYSE:MRK) shares rose in price by 0.33 points (0.28%), closing at 118.22.

The least gainers were shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA), whose price fell by 1.54 points (4.60%), ending the session at 31.96. Shares of Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:AMGN) climbed by 6.66 points (2.82%), closing at 229.31, while JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) dropped in price by 2.94 points (2.12%) and finished trading at 135.98.

Among the S&P 500 index components, the leaders in growth at the end of today's trading were shares of Signature Bank (OTC:SBNY), which rose by 36.21% to 0.09, Generac Holdings Inc (NYSE:GNRC), which gained 11.63%, closing at 114.76, and shares of Assurant Inc (NYSE:AIZ), which increased by 9.28%, finishing the session at 132.03.

The least gainers were shares of Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL), which dropped in price by 17.34%, closing at 202.70. Shares of Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:AMD) lost 9.25% and ended the session at 81.59. Quotations of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) fell in price by 9.17% to 103.96.

Among the NASDAQ Composite index components, the leaders in growth at the end of today's trading were shares of ImmunoGen Inc (NASDAQ:IMGN), which rose by 135.77% to 12.26, Aptorum Group Ltd Class A (NASDAQ:APM), which gained 98.29%, closing at 5.73, and shares of Harbor Custom Development Inc (NASDAQ:HCDI), which increased by 90.25%, finishing the session at 7.61.

The least gainers were shares of VCI Global Ltd (NASDAQ:VCIG), which dropped in price by 68.84%, closing at 5.30. Shares of Guardforce AI Co Ltd (NASDAQ:GFAI) lost 56.46% and ended the session at 5.09. Quotations of Actelis Networks Inc (NASDAQ:ASNS) fell in price by 45.01% to 3.58.

At the New York Stock Exchange, the number of declining stocks (1769) exceeded the number of those closing in the green (1191), while the quotations of 102 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, shares of 1783 companies rose, 1775 declined, and 152 remained at the previous closing level.

The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on trading indicators of options on the S&P 500, increased by 3.15% to 18.34.

Gold futures for June delivery added 0.76%, or 15.45, reaching $2,00 per troy ounce. As for other commodities, WTI crude oil futures for June delivery decreased by 4.73%, or 3.39, to $68.27 per barrel. Brent crude oil futures for July delivery fell by 4.34%, or 3.27, to $72.05 per barrel.

Meanwhile, in the Forex market, the EUR/USD pair rose by 0.50% to 1.11, and the USD/JPY quotations fell by 0.98%, reaching 135.20.

The USD index futures dropped by 0.57% to 101.15.