The Dow finished with a steep triple-digit loss today. The blue-chip index traded over 200 points in the black at its session highs but pared those midday gains later in the afternoon as the tech selloff intensified. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both finished lower as well, with the latter especially restricted by Big Tech weakness. Amid the choppy price action, Wall Street's "fear gauge," the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), closed above the psychologically-significant 20 level today for the first time since Dec. 21.

The Dow Jones Average (DJI - 36,113.62) shed 176.7 points or 0.5% for the day. Boeing (BA) led the gainers today, adding 3%, and Microsoft (MSFT) paced the laggards with a 4.2% fall.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 4,659.03) lost 67.3 points or 1.4% for the day. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC -14,806.81) gave back 381.6 points, or 2.5%, for today's session.

Lastly, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 20.31) gained 2.7 points or 15.3% for the day.

GOLD, OIL COOL OFF

Oil prices took a breather today in a bout of profit-taking, even as the U.S. dollar continued to retreat. February-dated oil shed 52 cents or 0.6%, to finish at $82.12.

Gold snapped a four-day win streak today, taking their cues from the 10-year Treasury yield. February-dated gold fell $5.90, or 0.3%, to close at $1,821.40 per ounce.