Stock market today: Nasdaq, S&P 500 fall as investors digest flood of tech earnings, partial government shutdown

US stocks mostly fell as investors digested a wave of tech-focused earnings, precious metals jumped to continue their wild ride, and a partial government shutdown rolled into its fourth day. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) sank by 0.8% after initially beginning the session in the green, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) lost 0.4% after also starting the day up. Moving the other direction, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) managed to avoid losses and pick up 0.1% after the blue-chip benchmark led gai ...