Investors returned from the long weekend break in a bearish mood. The threat of conflict with North Korea came back into focus, while a sharp selloff in financials stocks weighed on benchmark indexes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 150 points. Delta Air Lines Inc. moved lower after reducing a key passenger metric for its third quarter. Passenger unit revenue is expected to climb by 2% to 3% over the period, lower than previously targeted. Operating margins were also lowered. Factory orders retreated at a slightly faster pace than anticipated in July. New orders for U.S. manufactured goods fell by 3.3% percent, its steepest decline in nearly three years. Walt Disney Co. was upgraded to OUTPERFORM from MARKET PERFORM at Wells Fargo. Analysts changed their rating based on Disney's improved direct-to-consumer streaming strategy.

There were big losses in Wall Street's return from the long weekend as North Korea's latest missile tests set off market tremors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended more than 200 points lower. Financials were the worst performers with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. shares taking a large chunk out of the Dow. Other laggards in the financial sector include Bank of America Corp. , Wells Fargo & Co. , JPMorgan Chase & Co. , and Citigroup Inc. . Tech leaders responded to President Trump's decision to scrap DACA with a resounding 'no.' Facebook Inc. and Microsoft Corp. were among those calling for legislation to protect undocumented immigrants that arrived in the U.S. as children. Insurance stocks were lower with Hurricane Irma on track to make landfall in Florida by the weekend. Travelers Companies , one of the largest insurers in the U.S., was down around 3% in its worst performance of the year.

Wall Street saw another day of nervous trading as investors assessed the likelihood of conflict with North Korea. Severe flooding in Houston and surrounding regions was also top of mind. Consumer confidence strengthened in August, sitting just below a 16-year high set in March. Economists had expected optimism to weaken slightly this month even with strong gains in the labor market and record highs for stocks. Best Buy Co. Inc. was the worst performer on the S&P 500 even after besting second-quarter estimates. Same-store sales rose over 5%, more than double an expected increase. The electronics retail chain also increased full-year sales guidance. Movado Group rocketed higher after blasting past quarterly estimates. Adjusted earnings of 43 cents a share came in 20 cents higher than expected. Movado also authorized a new share repurchase plan.

A resilient market brushed aside earlier losses to end the day higher. Stocks had started off the session with sharp losses after North Korea launched its latest missile test, the first to fly over Japan in around eight years. United Technologies Corp. was the best performer on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, helping to lift the blue-chip index out of the red. The defense stock spiked following a Wall Street Journal report that it is close to purchasing Rockwell Collins Inc. in a deal worth more than $20 billion. Nike Inc. bottomed out the Dow after Morgan Stanley downgraded its rating on slowing sales in North America. The firm also cut the company's 2018 earnings and sales target. Energy shares were active as the effects of Harvey's flooding on refinery operations continued to be assessed. Major oilers such as Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and Marathon Petroleum Corp. were lower.

The largest single winner ever for Powerball is someone who bought their ticket in Massachusetts. The winning ticket was sold at a convenience store in Watertown. It's not known yet who bought the lucky ticket. Global Central Bankers head to Jackson Hole, Wyoming today for a multi-day economic summit. It runs through Sunday. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen will speak tomorrow, with markets watching for hints on interest rates and monetary policy. Tropical Storm Harvey has regained steam and is bearing down on the U.S. Gulf Coast. A hurricane warning has been issued for a second of Texas's Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm harvey approaches the area. Energy prices are steady as the storm threatens the refining rich areas of Houston and Western Louisiana. Watch More with TheStreet: Hold on Apple. Samsung has a New Watch Ignore Jackson Hole, Focus On This Instead When It Comes To Gold - CEO 5 Biggest Powerball Prizes in History Kiehl's Reveals the Perfect Skincare Regimen If You're Working a 100 Hour Week on Wall Street

Stocks struggled for direction through the morning session before breaking lower as the wait for comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen tomorrow caused jitters. Retailers were largely higher after a series of positive earnings reports. Dollar Tree Inc. was one of those lucky retailers. The discount chain soared after a better-than-expected second quarter and solid guidance for its third quarter and full year. Quarterly sales increased nearly 6%. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. rocketed higher after reporting a narrower loss than expected over its second quarter. Same-store sales decreased 1%, weighed on by a drop at its namesake brand, though sales at Hollister rose. Existing home sales made a surprise turn lower in July, a troubling trend after new home sales out a day earlier showed a dip as well. Sales of previously-owned homes fell to its lowest level of the year.

A shaky day ended in the red with all benchmark indexes sporting modest losses by the end of the day. Stocks seesawed from gains to losses for much of the session ahead of highly anticipated comments from Fed Chair Yellen on Friday. Jewelry chain Tiffany & Co. moved lower even after showcasing strong quarterly sales growth. Solid demand for its high-end lines and increased sales of wholesale diamonds helped to drive revenue. Industry peer Signet Jewelers Ltd. topped out the S&P 500 after also showing off a better-than-expected second quarter. Wells Fargo reiterated its OUTPERFORM rating after the earnings beat. Apple Inc. will build a billion-dollar data center on 2,000 acres in a suburb near Des Moines, Iowa. The world's largest company will get nearly $208 million in incentives including tax refunds and tax breaks. More From TheStreet: This Is Why Janet Yellen's Jackson Hole Speech Could Destroy the Stock Market 3 Things to Watch in Janet Yellen and Mario Draghi's Jackson Hole Speeches Nervousness Fills Gold Market Ahead of Jackson Hole Will Yellen Turn Hawkish at Jackson Hole?

The Galaxy Note 8 from Samsung will debut at a press conference in New York today. Rumors suggest it's a hair larger than the previous phone and will come with a 'pen' or stylus. It's also expected to be able to work with other Samsung products, like the watch and virtual reality Gear headsets. Whole Foods shareholders vote today on the buyout by Amazon . It shareholders approve the merger, the last major roadblock to closing the deal is regulatory approval. Lowe's )had a mixed quarterly report released today. Earnings missed expectations and revenue fell short. Same store comparable sales, though were better than expected. Lowe's also guided lower for the year and said it would boost customer service. Today, July new home sales are reported and Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert Kaplan participates in a moderated question and answer session. Watch More with TheStreet: Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 Will Be Unveiled Today President Donald Trump Threatens to Shut Down the Government to Get Border Wall Funds Women Are 'Dramatically Underrepresented' in Tech, Says Women Who Code CEO Why Panera Bread Is Putting Sugar Counts on Its Cups

Wall Street was in retreat after enjoying its best day of the summer a day earlier. A disappointing quarter from Lowe's Cos. triggered losses in consumer names, while defense stocks fell back after Tuesday's rally. New home sales tumbled in July. The number of newly-built homes sold last month fell 9.4% to a seven-month low. Sales also missed analysts' estimates. Crude oil inventories dropped for their eighth straight week in a row. Domestic stockpiles fell by 3.3 million barrels in the past week, according to the Energy Information Administration. Gasoline stocks also dropped, while distillates were unchanged. American Eagle Outfitters surged after quarterly profit and sales came in above forecasts. The apparel retailer also reported a 2% increase in same-store sales, a surprise to analysts looking for a slight decline.

Wall Street pulled back midweek, retreating from a big surge a day earlier that saw stocks close with their best gains in roughly four months. Industrials were among the worst performers. Express Inc. rocketed higher after a double-digit increase in e-commerce sales drove the apparel retailer to a better-than-expected quarter. Adjusted earnings of 1 cent a share came in higher than an expected loss. United Technologies Corp. was one of the few defense stocks in the green on reports of activist investor interest. An investor, possibly Third Point, has been buying up stock to give it better footing to push for a spinoff of non-core businesses, according to The New York Post. Salesforce.com Inc. was slightly higher after topping quarterly estimates. Sales surged more than 25% and exceeded consensus. Adjusted earnings rose year over year and beat forecasts.