The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 403.51 (-0.8251%) points today, Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, closing at 48,501.27. The primary narrative driving the market was a disappointing ISM Manufacturing PMI report, which signaled a sharper-than-expected contraction in industrial activity. This economic data triggered a flight from cyclical sectors, with Dow Futures also falling 462.00 (-0.9439%) points. Investors are increasingly wary of a broader economic slowdown, overshadowing recent corporate optimism.
Leading the session's losses was Caterpillar (CAT), which plummeted 4.21% to $721.14 following the weak manufacturing outlook. Other significant losers included Nike (NKE), which dropped 2.38% to $59.57, and Boeing (BA), falling 2.32% to $224.58. Additional pressure came from Amgen (AMGN), down 2.28%, and Sherwin-Williams (SHW), which slid 2.22%. Consumer staples also struggled, with Procter & Gamble (PG) losing 2.18% as recessionary fears dampened sentiment.
In contrast, the technology sector offered a defensive haven. Salesforce (CRM) led the gainers, rising 2.50% to $197.80, while IBM (IBM) gained 2.04% to close at $244.40. Microsoft (MSFT) advanced 1.81% to $405.52, supported by continued strength in enterprise cloud demand. Other notable gainers included Verizon (VZ), up 1.78%, and JPMorgan Chase (JPM), which climbed 1.38%. This stark divergence between resilient tech earnings and crumbling industrial data defined the trading day, as the index struggled to find footing amidst macro uncertainty.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.