Dow sinks more than 700 points as delta variant stokes new fears for economic recovery

Stock markets tumbled Monday amid renewed virus concerns.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 775 points -- or 2.25% -- early Monday, as renewed fears over the delta coronavirus variant cast a shadow on the economy's post-pandemic recovery. The S&P 500 was down some 1.9% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq was down 1.6% shortly after markets opened. Monday's sell-off comes on the heels of a record high for the S&P 500 approximately a week ago. Some of the hardest-hit stocks include companies that would be impacted the most by new virus restrictions, including hotels, airlines and travel firms. Cruise liner Carnival Corp was down 7% in early trading and Boeing shed more than 5%. The bloodbath also comes as the more-transmissible delta variant has become the dominant variant in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the delta variant has caused over half of all recent COVID-19 cases in the U.S.