The equity markets opened lower this morning, and remained mostly on the downside through the afternoon, as investors reacted negatively to a series of lackluster earnings reports. Further, concerns intensified that a broader trade war could develop between the United States and many other key countries. At the end of the session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 135 points; the broader S&P 500 Index was off 11 points; and the NASDAQ was lower by 29 points.