Investing.com - U.S. stocks opened mixed in holiday-thinned trade on Monday, as markets eyed the release of U.S. pending home sales data later in the day.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average eased up 0.07%, the S&P 500 index dipped 0.05%, while the Nasdaq Composite index shed 0.35%.
Trading volumes were thin as many investors already closed books before the end of the year, reducing liquidity in the market and increasing volatility, which helped exaggerate market moves.
Market sentiment improved after European Central Bank Governing Council member Jens Weidmann on Friday said keeping interest rates low may endanger political reforms.
According to Germany’s Bild newspaper, Weidmann said low inflation shouldn’t be used to justify loose monetary policy. "We must take care to raise interest rates again in a timely manner should inflation pressures build," he reportedly added.
Meanwhile, equity markets were jittery amid expectations of further stimulus tapering by the Federal Reserve. The U.S. central bank will start reducing its bond-buying stimulus program by USD10 billion a month in January, amid indications of an improving U.S. economy.
Crocs shares soared 13.43% following reports Chief Executive Officer John McCarvel will retire and Blackstone Group will invest USD200 million in convertible preferred stock.
In the Internet sector, Twitter plummeted 7.06% after losing over 13% at the close of the U.S. trading session on Friday. The stock had gained 6% to a fresh all-time high on Thursday, bringing it close to having tripled from its November IPO.
Separately, Amazon.com shared edged down 0.08% after data from Flurry Analytics last week revealed that the company's Kindle got the biggest boost in device activations on Christmas Day.
Elsewhere, Cooper Tire & Rubber plunged 3.05% after the company said it would not go through with a USD2.5 billion merger with India's Apollo Tyres.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed to lower. The EURO STOXX 50 slipped 0.13%, France’s CAC 40 inched up 0.01%, Germany's DAX edged 0.10% lower, while Britain's FTSE 100 declined 0.37%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index inched up 0.01%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index gained 0.69%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release industry data on pending home sales.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average eased up 0.07%, the S&P 500 index dipped 0.05%, while the Nasdaq Composite index shed 0.35%.
Trading volumes were thin as many investors already closed books before the end of the year, reducing liquidity in the market and increasing volatility, which helped exaggerate market moves.
Market sentiment improved after European Central Bank Governing Council member Jens Weidmann on Friday said keeping interest rates low may endanger political reforms.
According to Germany’s Bild newspaper, Weidmann said low inflation shouldn’t be used to justify loose monetary policy. "We must take care to raise interest rates again in a timely manner should inflation pressures build," he reportedly added.
Meanwhile, equity markets were jittery amid expectations of further stimulus tapering by the Federal Reserve. The U.S. central bank will start reducing its bond-buying stimulus program by USD10 billion a month in January, amid indications of an improving U.S. economy.
Crocs shares soared 13.43% following reports Chief Executive Officer John McCarvel will retire and Blackstone Group will invest USD200 million in convertible preferred stock.
In the Internet sector, Twitter plummeted 7.06% after losing over 13% at the close of the U.S. trading session on Friday. The stock had gained 6% to a fresh all-time high on Thursday, bringing it close to having tripled from its November IPO.
Separately, Amazon.com shared edged down 0.08% after data from Flurry Analytics last week revealed that the company's Kindle got the biggest boost in device activations on Christmas Day.
Elsewhere, Cooper Tire & Rubber plunged 3.05% after the company said it would not go through with a USD2.5 billion merger with India's Apollo Tyres.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed to lower. The EURO STOXX 50 slipped 0.13%, France’s CAC 40 inched up 0.01%, Germany's DAX edged 0.10% lower, while Britain's FTSE 100 declined 0.37%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index inched up 0.01%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index gained 0.69%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release industry data on pending home sales.