US stock markets settled lower on Tuesday as rising geopolitical tensions lured investors out of risky assets like stocks and into the perceived safety of Treasurys, gold and the Japanese yen.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 6.72 points or 0.03 percent to settle at 20,651.30. NASDAQ 100 index declined 23.28 points or 0.43 percent to close at 5,398.40. The broader S&P 500 index slid 3.38 points or 0.14 percent to end at 2,353.78.