The possibility of an interest rate increase in December sent the markets tumbling to a sharply lower open with the Dow plummeting 156 points to 17,753. Nasdaq dropped 44 points to 5,102.
On the upside
Iconix Brand (Nasdaq: ICON) reported a smaller than expected loss for the third quarter.
Plum Creek Timber (NYSE: PCL) will be acquired by Weyerhaeuser (NYSE: WY) for a premium of approximately $8.4 billion.
Horizon Pharma (Nasdaq: HZNP) forecast 2016 full year revenue ahead of estimates.
On the downside
Kandi Technologies (Nasdaq: KNDI) disappointed with sharply lower third quarter earnings.
CommScope Holding (Nasdaq: COMM) fell to a loss for the third quarter as revenue slipped.
Anavex Life Sciences (Nasdaq: AVXL) reported positive data for ANAVEX 2-73 to treat Alzheimer's disease but analysts questioned the structure of the study.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 3 to 1 on the NYSE and by more than 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 tumbled 19 points to 2,080. Bitcoin gained $11 to $378.