Dow records worst monthly fall in more than 5 years

Lingering worries about China’s slowing economy, ongoing tension over Greece and the uncertainty over the timing of a rate increase by the Federal Reserve weighed on investor sentiment during August.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended August with the biggest monthly fall in more than five years, while the S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite index recorded their largest monthly declines since May 2012.

Lingering worries about China’s slowing economy, ongoing tension over Greece and the uncertainty over the timing of a rate increase by the Federal Reserve weighed on investor sentiment during August.

The Dow was down 6.6% in August, its steepest percentage decline since May 2010 while the S&P 500 index recorded a 6.3% drop last month, its worst fall since May 2012.

The Nasdaq Composite index shed 6.9% in August.

China's Shanghai Composite index slid 12.5% in August while the Stoxx Europe 600 index posted their worst monthly drop since 2011.