Investing.com - U.S. stock prices trimmed earlier losses and closed flat to lower in light trading that saw demand for financial and technology stocks offset falling energy equities.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.16%, the S&P 500 index ended down 0.06%, while the Nasdaq Composite index also fell 0.06%.
Markets were quiet amid a session lack of major economic indicators or other steering currents.
Meanwhile in Asia, many markets were closed in observance of the Lunar New Year holidays, while Brazilian markets were closed for the country's Carnival celebrations, which allowed for thin trading as well.
Many investors avoided stocks on Monday ahead of President Barack Obama's State of the Union to take place on Tuesday.
On Friday in the U.S., the U.S. Commerce Department reported that country's trade deficit in December narrowed to USD38.5 billion from a USD48.6 billion deficit in November.
Analysts were expecting the trade deficit to only narrow to USD46 billion.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included Microsoft, up 1.13%, Pfizer, up 1.00%, and Bank of America, up 0.85%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included UnitedHealth Group, down 1.07%, Home Depot, down 0.93%, and Boeing, down 0.90%.
European indices, meanwhile, finished mixed.
After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.29%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.03%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished down 0.24%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished up 0.21%.
In Europe earlier, France reported that its industrial output contracted by 0.1% in December from the month before, less than market calls for a 0.2% contraction though still down from November's 0.5% gain.
On Tuesday, the U.S. is to publish data on the federal budget balance.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.16%, the S&P 500 index ended down 0.06%, while the Nasdaq Composite index also fell 0.06%.
Markets were quiet amid a session lack of major economic indicators or other steering currents.
Meanwhile in Asia, many markets were closed in observance of the Lunar New Year holidays, while Brazilian markets were closed for the country's Carnival celebrations, which allowed for thin trading as well.
Many investors avoided stocks on Monday ahead of President Barack Obama's State of the Union to take place on Tuesday.
On Friday in the U.S., the U.S. Commerce Department reported that country's trade deficit in December narrowed to USD38.5 billion from a USD48.6 billion deficit in November.
Analysts were expecting the trade deficit to only narrow to USD46 billion.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included Microsoft, up 1.13%, Pfizer, up 1.00%, and Bank of America, up 0.85%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included UnitedHealth Group, down 1.07%, Home Depot, down 0.93%, and Boeing, down 0.90%.
European indices, meanwhile, finished mixed.
After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.29%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.03%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished down 0.24%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished up 0.21%.
In Europe earlier, France reported that its industrial output contracted by 0.1% in December from the month before, less than market calls for a 0.2% contraction though still down from November's 0.5% gain.
On Tuesday, the U.S. is to publish data on the federal budget balance.