US markets slide Wednesday

U.S. stock markets slumped after the Christmas break, with uncertainty over budget talks in Washington setting the mood on Wall Street Wednesday. By close of trading, the Dow Jones industrial average lost 24.49 points or 0.19 percent to 13,114.59. The Nasdaq lost 22.44 points or 0.74 percent to 2,990.16. The Standard & Poor's 500 shed 6.83 points or 0.48 percent to 1,419.83. On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,119 stocks advanced and 1,919 declined on a volume of 2.2 billion shares traded. The 10-year treasury note was up 6/32 to yield 1.756 percent. Against the yen, the dollar was higher at 85.54 from Monday's 84.81. The euro rose to $1.3228 from $1.3183. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index added 1.49 percent, 150.24 points, to 10,230.35.