NEW YORK, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks tumbled on Tuesday, the first trading day of this week, as geopolitical tension between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the U.S. rattled Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 234.25 points, or 1.07 percent, to 21,753.31. The S&P 500 lost 18.70 points, or 0.76 percent, to 2,457.85. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 59.76 points, or 0.93 percent, to 6,375.57.
The DPRK on Sunday detonated a hydrogen bomb that can be carried by an intercontinental ballistic missile, DPRK's Central Television announced.
Tensions between the United States and the DPRK has been escalating recently, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump said the DPRK would face "fire and fury" if it continues to threaten the United States.
Investors increased their exposure to safe-haven assets like gold.
U.S. stocks market was closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day.
Meanwhile, analysts said September has historically been one of the most volatile months for stocks.
Overseas, the European Central Bank (ECB) is set to meet later this week.
"This week's economic highlight is the midweek ECB meeting, where Mario Draghi is expected to start laying a path to tapering the European bond buying program," said Chris Low, chief economist of FTN Financial, on Tuesday.
In corporate news, United Technologies is acquiring Rockwell Collins for about 30 billion U.S. dollars in order to expand its aerospace business.
Shares of United Technologies fell 5.69 percent to close at 111.21 dollars apiece Tuesday, while shares of Rockwell Collins ticked up 0.30 percent to 131.00 dollars apiece. Enditem
