US stocks mixed as investors mull economic data

NEW YORK: US stocks traded mixed Monday as investors weighed better-than-expected March retail sales numbers, a sharp slowdown in New York manufacturing and renewed eurozone debt tensions.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 77.43 points (0.60 percent) to 12,927.02 in closing trade.

The broader S&P 500 inched down 0.56 point (0.04 percent) to 1,369.70, while the tech-rich Nasdaq tumbled 22.96 (0.76 percent) to 2,988.37.

The three main indexes opened with solid gains after a second straight weekly decline, but turned bearish after contradictory signals on the health of the US economy.

"US equity markets are finding some pressure amid mixed data," Charles Schwab & Co. analysts said.