US stocks end lower on renewed recession jitters

US indices lost steam on Thursday as the 'Wall Street fear' gauge hit its highest level since mid-April amid strong purchases of US bonds.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 1.2%, or 494 points, to settle at 40,347 points.

The S&P 500 index dropped by 1.35%, or 75 points, to 5,446 points. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 2.3%, or 405 points, to17,194points.

As for European markets, the STOXX Europe 600 was down 1.25% to 511.8 points.

The German DAX index fell 2.30% to 18,083 points, and the French CAC 40 index dropped 2.15% to 7,370 points. In addition, the British FTSE index retreated 1% to close at 8,283 points,

The Nikkei index fell 2.5%, or 975 points, to 38,126 points, and the broader Topix index declined 3.25% to 2,703 points.

Brent crude futures for October delivery were down 1.65%, or $1.32, at $79.52 per barrel.

WTI crude for September delivery decreased 2%, or $1.60, to $76.31 per barrel.

Regarding gold, futures prices for December delivery rose by 0.3, or $7.8, to $2,480.8 per ounce.