Stocks traded lower on Monday amid doubts of a breakthrough in U.S.-China trade talks, which are set to begin later this week.
The Dow Jones Industrials flopped 116 points to stumbled out of the gate at 26,457.72
The S&P 500 subtracted 13.69 points to 2,938.46. Industrials proved the biggest decliner among S&P 500 sectors, losing 0.6%.
The NASDAQ Composite dropped 33.01 points to 7,949.33
A media report suggested Chinese officials were increasingly reluctant to agree to a broad trade deal pursued by President Donald Trump.
Vice Premier Liu He, who will lead negotiations for China, told dignitaries that his offer to the U.S. will not include commitments on reforming Chinese industrial policy or government subsidies, Bloomberg reported Sunday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Trade talks between the U.S. and China are set to resume in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Deputy-level talks kicked off on Monday.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury nicked higher, waned, raising yields to 1.54% from Friday's 1.52%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained 66 cents to $53.47 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices fell $6.90 to $1,506.00 U.S. an ounce.