US Close 31 Aug 16: US markets lower - hit by #Apple tax news, weak retail and high USD.

US sharemarkets ended weaker on Tuesday as investors debated the timing of the next US rate hike. In addition the technology sector lost ground after EU antitrust regulators ordered Apple to pay about $14.5 billion in back taxes to the Irish government. Apple shares fell 0.9%. Banking stocks rose on the likelihood of US rate hikes. The S&P financial index rose 0.8% to the highest level since December last year. The Dow Jones index fell by 49 points or 0.3%. The S&P 500 index fell by 0.2% but the Nasdaq fell by 9 points or 0.2%.

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