franckreporter U.S. equities extended their decline on Friday, with small-cap stocks leading the downturn as rising yields continue to pressure risk assets. The Russell 2000 Index ( RTY )( IWM ), a widely followed benchmark for U.S. small-cap companies, has officially entered correction territory, falling 10.3% from its January 22 closing high. The index was last trading near 2,435, hovering just ...
franckreporter U.S. equities extended their decline on Friday, with small-cap stocks leading the downturn as rising yields continue to pressure risk assets. The Russell 2000 Index ( RTY )( IWM ), a widely followed benchmark for U.S. small-cap companies, has officially entered correction territory, falling 10.3% from its January 22 closing high. The index was last trading near 2,435, hovering just below its 200-day moving average of 2,437—a key technical level closely watched by investors. A sustained break below this threshold could signal further downside momentum for the small-cap segment, which is often more sensitive to borrowing costs and economic shifts. The broader market has also shown signs of strain. The tech focused Nasdaq Composite ( COMP:IND ) has declined 9.8% from its record high, while the Dow ( DJI ) is down 9.5%, nearing correction territory as well. The S&P 500 ( SP500 ) has pulled back 7% from its peak. Much of the recent weakness has been driven by a sharp rise in U.S. Treasury yields, as investors increasingly price in a higher-for-longer interest rate environment. Expectations that the Federal Reserve could maintain elevated rates—or potentially resume rate hikes into 2026—have weighed heavily on equities, particularly growth-oriented and smaller-cap stocks. Dow ETFs: ( DIA ), ( DDM ), ( UDOW ), ( DOG ), ( DXD ), and ( SDOW ). S&P 500 ETFs: ( SPY ), ( VOO ), ( IVV ), ( RSP ), ( SSO ), ( UPRO ), ( SH ), ( SDS ), ( SPXU ), ( FXAIX ), ( VFIAX ), ( VFFSX ), and ( SWPPX ). Nasdaq ETFs: ( QQQ ), ( QQQM ), ( SQQQ ), ( TQQQ ), ( QLD ), and ( QID ). More on markets Sector breakdown since the start of the U.S.–Iran conflict: Energy leads, materials lags Treasury yields spike as markets reprice Fed rate hike possibility Bearish sentiment tops 50% as AAII survey signals sharp investor shift S&P 500 slides but these 15 stocks remain overbought Dividend Roundup: JPMorgan Chase, Micron Technology, CVS Health, Broadcom, and more