Stock indexes close flat in lackluster trading session

A listless session on Wall Street ended Monday with major indexes closing little changed as modest gains from earlier in the afternoon faded in the final minutes of trading.

The stock indexes spent most of the afternoon holding on to slight gains after a wobbly morning in the market as investors digested some weak economic figures out of Germany.

The S&P 500 inched 0.29 point lower, or less than 0.1%, to 2,991.78. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 14.92 points, or 0.1%, to 26,949.99. The Nasdaq fell 5.21 points, or 0.1%, to 8,112.46. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies lost 1.52 points, or 0.1%, to 1,558.25.

The major indexes are each up modestly for the month and the quarter. The benchmark S&P 500 index remains close to its all-time high set in late July.

Bond prices rose Monday, pulling down the yield on 10-year Treasury notes to 1.72% from 1.75% late Friday.

Losses in the health care, communication services and industrial sectors outweighed gains in technology stocks, consumer-centric companies and banks. Bond yields declined, a sign that investors were seeking to avoid some risk.

Even so, Monday was a relatively quiet day for stocks after last week, when the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates again and fresh jitters over the next round of negotiations in the trade conflict between the U.S. and China helped give the S&P 500 its first week of losses after three straight gains.

“It’s a bit of calm after the storm,” said Craig Birk, chief investment officer at Personal Capital.

Markets have rallied this month as investors welcomed steps by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions in advance of their next round of talks next month.

Several companies could provide a clearer picture this week of the effect the trade dispute is having on their business.

Nike, which could be a gauge of the trade war’s effect on shoemakers and retailers, will report fiscal first-quarter results today. Technology company Micron will report its fiscal fourth-quarter results on Thursday.

Meanwhile, oil prices and the energy sector could experience more volatility this week as President Donald Trump seeks a coalition to confront Iran, which the U.S. blames for last week’s strike on a Saudi Arabian oil facility.

Health care stocks were the biggest laggards Monday. UnitedHealth Group slid 1.8% and medical supply company McKesson dropped 2.6%.

Netflix was among the big decliners in the communication services sector. The stock fell 1.8%.

Chipmakers were big winners in tech stocks. Nvidia rose 1.2% and Qualcomm gained 1%. Traders also bid up shares in several retailers and restaurant chains. Target climbed 2% and McDonald’s rose 1%.

Utilities showed small gains. Investors typically shift to that sector and bonds when they are seeking safer places to put their money amid worries about economic growth.

E-commerce company Overstock.com slumped 25.3% after the company cut its financial forecast partly because tariffs have increased the costs of goods from China. It also named Jonathan Johnson as its new chief executive officer. He has been acting CEO since August when Patrick Byrne resigned.

Benchmark crude oil rose 55 cents to settle at $58.64 a barrel. Brent crude oil, the international standard, gained 49 cents to close at $64.77 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline was unchanged at $1.68 per gallon. Heating oil climbed 1 cent to $2.00 per gallon.

Natural gas was unchanged at $2.53 per 1,000 cubic feet.