Characterize the news's sentiment using the following options.
Options: positive, negative

Shares of Apple Inc. dropped 2.8% in midday trading Wednesday, to put them on track for a fourth-straight decline and the lowest close in 18 months. The technology behemoth's stock was the worst performer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on the day, as the Dow slumped 288 points, or 0.9%.
negative