US stocks have closed one per cent lower as investors consider the health of the consumer ahead of quarterly results from retailers this week and a long-delayed US jobs report, while they also brace for earnings from Nvidia later this week.

Losses accelerated in afternoon trading, with the S&P 500 trading below its 50-day moving average, a key technical marker, and on track to close below that level for the first time in months.

Results this week from retail giants Walmart, Home Depot and Target will round out the quarterly earnings season.

Shares of Home Depot, due to report on Tuesday before the bell, were down 1.1 per cent.

Investors eagerly awaited the September jobs report, which is due to be released on Thursday after the long US government shutdown ended last week.

Investors ar

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