Sector movers. Precious metals' miners, lenders pace losses

(Sharecast News) - Stocks fell as still high government bond yields and geopolitical worries continued to drag on investor sentiment. Among the sectors that performed worst against that backdrop were precious metals mining and lenders.

The first may have succumbed to slight profit-taking as the rally in gold and silver paused as investors waited to see how the war between Israel and Hamas would pan out.

Small gains for the Greenback were another contributing factor.

Among banks, it was all about StanChart on Thursday after it posted a drop in third-quarter pre-tax profit, as it took a hit from its exposure to the Chinese property and banking sectors.

Worth noting, longer-term government bond yields in the U.S. remained but a stone's throw away from their recent highs but in recent days some high-profile fund managers had said they expected them to move lower.

Top performing sectors so far today

Retailers 3,640.10 +1.42%

Gas, Water & Multiutilities 5,959.36 +0.97%

Household Goods & Home Construction 9,897.69 +0.96%

Chemicals 8,044.18 +0.95%

Telecommunications Service Providers 1,910.23 +0.49%

Bottom performing sectors so far today

Precious Metals and Mining 8,865.44 -2.62%

Industrial Support Services 8,661.98 -2.35%

Medical Equipment and Services 9,979.31 -2.10%

Personal Care, Drug and Grocery Stores 3,998.41 -1.87%

Banks 3,417.00 -1.77%