12:35 PM EDT, 10/15/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes fell with energy and technology leading the decliners in midday trading on Tuesday.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.8% to 18,348.1, with the S&P 500 down 0.4% to 5,837.9 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.2% lower at 42,963.6. Energy and technology led the decliners intraday, while real estate, financials, and utilities were among the top gainers.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil sank 5% to $70.01 a barrel, the lowest since early this month.

The Washington Post on Tuesday reported Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Biden Administration Israel will concentrate on attacking Iranian military facilities when it responds to Iran's attack, easing concerns the strike could impact Iran's 1.7 million barrels per day of oil exports and likely draw Iran into a wider Middle Eastern war.

Meanwhile, the IEA again cut its estimate for 2024 demand growth in its October Oil Market Report, seeing demand at 862,000 barrels per day over 2023 levels, down from its 903,000 bpd September estimate. The agency slightly raised its 2025 demand growth estimate to one million bpd while warning that rising non-OPEC supply and weak Chinese demand will result in higher inventories next year.

In company news, ASML Holding ( ASML ) said in fiscal Q3 results that it expects 2025 net sales of 30 billion euros ($32.75 billion) to 35 billion euros. Analysts surveyed by Capital IQ are looking for 35.77 billion euros. Shares of the technology giant plunged 16.5%, the worst performer on the Nasdaq.

UnitedHealth Group ( UNH ) narrowed its full-year earnings outlook amid a higher-than-expected impact from business disruptions associated with a cybersecurity incident earlier in the year. Shares slumped 7.1% intraday, the steepest decliner on the Dow.

Walgreens Boots Alliance ( WBA ) shares surged nearly 15% intraday, the leader on the S&P 500 after the company reported fiscal Q4 adjusted net earnings per share and sales that topped estimates from analysts polled by Capital IQ. The pharmaceutical giant said it aims to close about 1,200 stores over the next three years, with around 500 planned for fiscal 2025.

US Treasury yields were mixed intraday, with the 10-year yield down three basis points to 4.04% and the two-year rate 1.5 basis points higher at 3.95%.

In US economic news, Redbook US same-store sales rose 5.6% from a year earlier in the week ended Oct. 12, faster than a 5.4% increase in the previous week.