The Dow Jones industrial average slid 244 points, worsening losses from the year’s worst trading day, as global trade disputes and bond-market indicators triggered recession fears.

The blue-chip index fell 0.9% to 25,784 in afternoon trading in New York after an earlier decline of more than 500 points, while the broader S&P 500 dropped 0.7% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq tumbled 0.5%. Gold, which many investors consider a safe haven when securities like stocks and bonds are losing value, climbed 2.4% to $1,518 an ounce.