The major US stock indices are closing lower on the day ahead of a slew of earnings after the close:

• Dow industrial average fell -228.5 points or -0.71% at 31761.55
• NASDAQ index fell -45.79 point -1.15% at 3921.04
• NASDAQ index fell -220.08 points or -1.87% at 11562.58
• Russell 2000 fell -12.52 points or is -0.69% at 1805.245