US stocks retreat amid economic data

U.S. stocks ended lower after wavering in a tight range Monday, as Wall Street digested economic data for more indications on the country's economy health.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 54.30 points, or 0.30 percent, to 18,253.85. The S&P 500 lost 7.07 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,161.20. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 11.13 points, or 0.21 percent, to 5,300.87.

The seasonally adjusted Markit Flash U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index fell slightly from August's reading of 52.0 to 51.5 in September, the weakest improvement in overall business conditions since June.

The September purchasing managers' index registered 51.5 percent, an increase of 2.1 percentage points from the August reading of 49.4 percent, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Monday.

"The drop in the August ISM manufacturing index into contraction territory may have been solely related to autos as manufacturing expanded moderately in September," said Sophia Kearney-Lederman, an economic analyst at FTN Financial, in a note.

Overseas, markets in China were closed for holidays. Tokyo stocks closed higher Monday as the yen's retreat against the U.S. dollar lifted investor sentiment and sent exporter issues higher, while easing concerns about Deutsche Bank's financial predicament added to an upbeat market mood.

European equities rose Monday as markets eyed developments on the Deutsche Bank settlement and Britain's Brexit process. British benchmark FTSE 100 Index jumped 1.22 percent, while French benchmark index CAC 40 inched up 0.12 percent.

Source : XINHUA