Wall Street has closed lower following U.S. speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan

China has condemned the diplomat’s visit, labelling it a threat to global peace and stability. 

Microsoft and Visa lost 1.1 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively, with all 11 S&P 500 indexes loosing ground.

Shares in chipmaking companies that are heavily exposed to China were mixed.

Caterpillar tumbled 5.8 per cent amid warnings of a drop in demand for its excavators in China.

Of course, the markets have been suffering in recent months as the war in Ukraine, soaring inflation and tightening financial conditions all have an impact.