Investing.com -- Stocks on the U.S. equities markets fell broadly on Tuesday reversing moderate gains from one session earlier, as a weaker dollar pushed down by disappointing U.S. factory data and uncertainties related to the Greek debt negotiations weighed.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ Composite index and the S&P Composite index all fell by less than 0.25%, as a late rally failed to offset significant losses from the U.S. morning session. The Dow lost 28.43 or 0.16% to 18,011.94, rallying from a poor morning when it opened down more than 100 points.
The NASDAQ, meanwhile, lost 6.40 or 0.13% to 5,076.53, retreating from record territory reached late last month. The S&P 500 also dropped 2.13 or 0.10% to 2,109.60, as six of 10 sectors closed in the red. Stocks in the Utilities, Technology and Health Care sectors lagged, while stocks in the Energy and Basic Materials industries led. Utilities stocks plunged more than 1.35% on the session.
Airline stocks continued to tumble, as losses by United and Delta weighed on the sector. Shares in Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL) fell more than 2.5% on Tuesday, after the Georgia-based airliner revised sales estimates for the current quarter. Delta shares dipped 1.15 points to 43.21, after the company said it expects a 4-5% decline in its revenues per available seat mile, down from previous forecasts of a 2-4% drop.
Shares in United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL) were also down for the majority of the session after a technical glitch in the company's network delayed U.S. domestic flights by more than a half-hour on Tuesday morning. The glitch was caused by an apparent hack that was responsible for incorrect flight plans to be filed into the system, according to a post on Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) from a United pilot. The airlines industry also dealt with further instability on Tuesday when reports surfaced of a bomb threats against five carriers. The reports later proved not to be credible.
As a result, the NYSE ACA Airlines index lost 0.44% on the session to close at 95.78. For the year, the index is down roughly 8%.
Still, Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) shares soared on Tuesday after NASA placed its first order to have the Seattle-based company launch astronauts to the International Space Station. The Boeing order is the space agency's first contract for a commercial astronaut expedition. Boeing, the top performer on the Dow, gained 1.47 or 2.08% to 143.33. The worst performer on the Dow was Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), which lost 0.69 or 2.04% to 33.22, one day after completing an all-cash merger with Altera Corporation (NASDAQ:ALTR) for $16.7 billion.
The biggest gainer on the NASDAQ was VimpelCom (NASDAQ:VIP), which added 0.16 or 2.61% to 6.29. VimpelCom finished just ahead of Priceline.com Incorporated (NASDAQ:PCLN), which saw its shares surge after reports surfaced that Austin-based HomeAway will list approximately 200,000 of its listing on Priceline.com's Kayak site. The deal marks the first partnership between Priceline and HomeAway. Priceline gained 29.36 or 2.52% to 1,196.02. The worst performer was Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU), which fell 0.63 or 2.22% to 27.79.
The top performer on the S&P 500 retailer PVH Corp (NYSE:PVH), which gained more than seven points after its Calvin Klein brand reported strong quarterly sales on Monday after the bell. PVH, which also owns Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen and Heritage Brands among others, gained 7.08% to close at 112.09.
The worst performer was PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL), which fell 2.96 or 8.51% to 31.81. On Monday, the Pennsylvania-based energy company announced that it completed the spinoff of its competitive supply division, which it says will allow it to place a greater focus on its high-performing regulated utilities in the U.S. and United Kingdom.