US equity markets extended declines into a third session as investors eyed some strong economic data that may provide Federal Reserve policymakers even more ammunition to continue its aggressive pace of interest-rate hikes - Dow fell -308-points or -0.96%, The broader S&P500 -1.10%, with Energy (down -3.36%) leading all eleven primary sectors lower. However, as of last night’s AEST close, energy and utilities were the only sectors up year to date and on pace to end the month with gains. The Nasdaq -1.11%, notching its third straight daily drop of at least 1%, the technology centric indice’s longest such streak since 13 June. Advanced Micro Devices Inc lost -1.75% despite the chipmaker announcing late Monday (29 August) that it would launch what it claimed is the “fastest processor in the world for gaming” in September. More broadly, Citi Group analysts penned a note predicting that “we are entering the worst semiconductor downturn in a decade given the recession and inventory build,” citing cancellations of orders from auto and industrial companies that executives from Micron Technology Inc (down -1.25%) and Analog Devices Inc (-1.59%) disclosed in recent weeks. All three U.S. benchmarks closed below their 50-day moving averages for the first time since July, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -1.45%. Twitter Inc fell -1.80% after Elon Musk sent a letter “formally notifying” the company that he was terminating the merger deal. In a letter delivered to Twitter on 29 August, Mr Musk mentions allegations known to Twitter before 8 July but undisclosed to him, that came to light after the Washington Post published a whistleblower report alleging “far-reaching misconduct” at Twitter.