Investing.com - U.S. stocks edged down on Monday after manufacturing data missed expectations on the first trading day of the second quarter.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.04%, the S&P 500 index slid 0.45%, while the Nasdaq Composite index dropped 0.87%.
The Institute for Supply Management's purchasing managers index for March fell to 51.3, from 54.2 in February.
Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged at 54.2.
The figures sent the stocks falling on sentiments the U.S. economy still faced headwinds.
Losses were muted on sentiments that the Federal Reserve won't rush to wind down stimulus programs such as its USD85 billion monthly bond-buying program, which aims to spur recovery by flooding the U.S. economy with liquidity to keep interest rates low, a recipe for rising stock prices.
Meanwhile, official data released Monday revealed that U.S. construction spending rose more than expected in March.
In a report, Census Bureau said that U.S. construction spending rose by 1.2% in February after contracting 2.1% in January.
Analysts were expecting U.S. construction spending to rise to 1.0% in February.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included UnitedHealth Group, up 3.09%, AT&T, up 1.50%, and Procter & Gamble, up 0.82%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Hewlett-Packard, down 2.26%, Intel, down 1.88%, and Alcoa, down 1.53%.
European markets were closed on holiday.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.04%, the S&P 500 index slid 0.45%, while the Nasdaq Composite index dropped 0.87%.
The Institute for Supply Management's purchasing managers index for March fell to 51.3, from 54.2 in February.
Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged at 54.2.
The figures sent the stocks falling on sentiments the U.S. economy still faced headwinds.
Losses were muted on sentiments that the Federal Reserve won't rush to wind down stimulus programs such as its USD85 billion monthly bond-buying program, which aims to spur recovery by flooding the U.S. economy with liquidity to keep interest rates low, a recipe for rising stock prices.
Meanwhile, official data released Monday revealed that U.S. construction spending rose more than expected in March.
In a report, Census Bureau said that U.S. construction spending rose by 1.2% in February after contracting 2.1% in January.
Analysts were expecting U.S. construction spending to rise to 1.0% in February.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included UnitedHealth Group, up 3.09%, AT&T, up 1.50%, and Procter & Gamble, up 0.82%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Hewlett-Packard, down 2.26%, Intel, down 1.88%, and Alcoa, down 1.53%.
European markets were closed on holiday.