Thursday's drop comes a day after all three major indexes posted their worst percentage declines in more than a month, erasing gains for the year in the aftermath of a gloomier outlook from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> slipped 58.88 points, or 0.57 percent, to 10,319.95. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 5.86 points, or 0.54 percent, to 1,083.61. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> tumbled 18.36 points, or 0.83 percent, to 2,190.27.
NYMEX-NEW YORK, Aug 12 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures prices fell a third straight day on Thursday, sliding nearly 3 percent as an unexpected rise in U.S. jobless claims fueled concerns about faltering economic growth and tepid oil demand.
A stronger dollar index and the greenback's strength against the euro also pressured oil.
The slide followed a 2.78 percent tumble on Wednesday, when the U.S. government reported inventories of gasoline and distillates rose more than expected last week and China reported that growth in investment and factory output there slowed further in July.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, September crude
CBOT-CHICAGO, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Thursday. Each market, with the exception of soyoil, closed higher but below the day's highs on late computer-generated positioning.
CBOT-SOYBEANS - August
CBOT-SOYOIL - August
FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures barely moved on Thursday as traders awaited a key U.S. report on world grains demand and supply that has recently driven vegetable oil markets.
But some investors were concerned that the palm oil market may come under some pressure if export demand slows further on a recent rally that pushed palm oil to a 15-month high earlier this week.
The U.S. government is set to forecast a bigger decline in world wheat stocks and a modest drop in global production as Russia's worst drought in over a century halts exports and threatens to whither the next crop.
The benchmark October crude palm oil contract
REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Thursday on growing concerns over the global economic recovery.
Indonesia <.JKSE>, the region's best performing market this year, closed 0.3 percent down, Singapore fell 0.8 percent to a three-week low, and Malaysia lost 0.3 percent.
Vietnam <.VNI>, the region's worst performing market, ended 3.2 percent weaker, while Philippines <.PSI> dropped 1.1 percent. Thailand <.SETI> was closed for a holiday.
In Singapore, banks fell for a second straight day with top lender DBS Group
Malaysian shares touched a three-week low in early trade but later recovered. Genting Malaysia