Investing.com - U.S. stocks were mixed on Monday, as markets remained jittery ahead of a meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Brussels later in the day amid sustained concerns over Greece’s financial troubles.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.17%, the S&P 500 index eased down 0.05%, while the Nasdaq Composite index edged 0.02% lower.
Investors were eyeing a meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Brussels later in the day, to give their final approval to a EUR130 billion bailout for Greece.
Ministers were likely to discuss Spain as well, after Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced earlier this month that the country would cut its public deficit to 5.8% of annual output, instead of the planned 4.4% this year.
Meanwhile, sentiment remained vulnerable after official data showed that China posted the largest trade deficit in 12 years in February, as exports declined.
Energy stocks were mostly higher as shares in Exxon Mobil rose 0.46% and 3M Co climbed 0.65%, while aluminum producer Alcoa jumped 1.02%.
Mining company Molycorp also surged 1.68% as it was preparing to buy Neo Material Technologies in a USD1.31 billion cash and share deal that will give Molycorp access to Neo's rare earth processing capabilities and patents.
Elsewhere, Youku.com skyrocketed 19.79% after China's largest online video company said it will buy second-ranked Tudou Holdings Ltd in an all-stock deal valued at more than USD1 billion.
In company news, Johnson & Johnson added 0.14% after federal prosecutors nixed a tentative USD1 billion settlement with the drug maker, holding out for a bigger settlement for alleged improper marketing of its Risperdal schizophrenia drug, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Meanwhile, shares in Zoll Medical Corp. soared 23.52% after Asahi Kasei Corp. of Japan agreed to buy the maker of resuscitation devices for about USD2.2 billion.
On the downside, Oracle Corp. saw shares tumble 1.59% after Jefferies Group downgraded its recommendation on the second-largest software maker.
Other stocks in focus included Urban Outfitters, due to release its quarterly results after the closing bell.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 dropped 0.24%, France’s CAC 40 declined 0.22%, Germany's DAX edged up 0.04%, while Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.13%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index eased down 0.1%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index slumped 0.4%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish government data on the federal budget balance.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.17%, the S&P 500 index eased down 0.05%, while the Nasdaq Composite index edged 0.02% lower.
Investors were eyeing a meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Brussels later in the day, to give their final approval to a EUR130 billion bailout for Greece.
Ministers were likely to discuss Spain as well, after Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced earlier this month that the country would cut its public deficit to 5.8% of annual output, instead of the planned 4.4% this year.
Meanwhile, sentiment remained vulnerable after official data showed that China posted the largest trade deficit in 12 years in February, as exports declined.
Energy stocks were mostly higher as shares in Exxon Mobil rose 0.46% and 3M Co climbed 0.65%, while aluminum producer Alcoa jumped 1.02%.
Mining company Molycorp also surged 1.68% as it was preparing to buy Neo Material Technologies in a USD1.31 billion cash and share deal that will give Molycorp access to Neo's rare earth processing capabilities and patents.
Elsewhere, Youku.com skyrocketed 19.79% after China's largest online video company said it will buy second-ranked Tudou Holdings Ltd in an all-stock deal valued at more than USD1 billion.
In company news, Johnson & Johnson added 0.14% after federal prosecutors nixed a tentative USD1 billion settlement with the drug maker, holding out for a bigger settlement for alleged improper marketing of its Risperdal schizophrenia drug, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Meanwhile, shares in Zoll Medical Corp. soared 23.52% after Asahi Kasei Corp. of Japan agreed to buy the maker of resuscitation devices for about USD2.2 billion.
On the downside, Oracle Corp. saw shares tumble 1.59% after Jefferies Group downgraded its recommendation on the second-largest software maker.
Other stocks in focus included Urban Outfitters, due to release its quarterly results after the closing bell.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 dropped 0.24%, France’s CAC 40 declined 0.22%, Germany's DAX edged up 0.04%, while Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.13%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index eased down 0.1%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index slumped 0.4%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish government data on the federal budget balance.