04:35 PM EDT, 06/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes closed lower on Tuesday, as Israel and Iran continued military strikes for the fifth straight day.

The Nasdaq fell 0.9% to 19,521.09, the S&P 500 decreased 0.8% to 5,982.72, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.7% to 42,215.8. Among sectors, health care led the decliners with energy as the lone gainer.

US Treasury yields fell with the 10-year rate decreasing 6.3 basis points to 4.39% and the two-year rate dropping 2.7 basis points to 3.96%.

August West Texas Intermediate crude oil increased 4.6% to $73.50 a barrel.

US President Donald Trump addressed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in social media posts: "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there."

"Our patience is wearing thin," Trump wrote.

In economic news, US retail sales in May fell more than market expectations amid declines in purchases of motor vehicles and building materials, government data showed.

"A flurry of activity in anticipation of tariffs boosted consumer spending earlier this year, but that momentum is now looking to have run its course, with retail sales declining in both April and May," TD Economics said.

US homebuilder confidence in June fell to the lowest since December 2022 amid affordability headwinds and macro uncertainty, according to data released by the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo.

"Given current market conditions, NAHB is forecasting a decline in single-family starts for 2025," chief economist Robert Dietz said.

In company news, Enphase Energy ( ENPH ) shares slumped 24%, the biggest decline on the S&P, after a US Senate committee proposed phasing out renewable energy credits and KeyBanc downgraded the stock. First Solar ( FSLR ) dropped 18%, the second-largest decline among index components.

Jabil ( JBL ) shares jumped 8.9%, the top gainer on the S&P. The company raised its full-year outlook as the manufacturing solutions provider reported better-than-expected fiscal Q3 results and announced a $500 million investment plan to expand in the US.

Marathon Petroleum ( MPC ) shares gained 2%, Chevron ( CVX ) advanced 1.9%, and Occidental Petroleum ( OXY ) and APA both rose 1.4%,

Gold decreased 0.4% to $3,402.80 per troy ounce, while silver was up 1.9% to $37.13 per troy ounce.