Strong US and North Korean rhetoric and a sharp increase in geoploitical tensions have driven investors in US markets out of stocks and other risky assets and into safe havens like gold and Treasuries.

After paring some losses, the Dow Jones index closed 0.17% lower at 22,048.70 while the S&P 500 lost 0.04% to 2,472.12. The Nasdaq Composite was down 0.3% at 22,048.70.