Stocks Ended Mixed with Eyes on Europe

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Monday as worries about the European debt crisis and weaker U.S. data kept investors wary of equities. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 17.11 points, or 0.14%, to 12,101.46. The S&P 500 eked out a minor gain, added 0.14 point to 1,278.18. The Nasdaq Composite rose 12.53 points, or 0.46%, to 2,760.01.

Finance chiefs of the Group of Seven leading industrialized powers will hold emergency talks on the euro zone debt crisis on Tuesday in a sign of heightened global alarm about strains in the 17-nation European currency area.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) on Monday said it would acquire San Francisco-based bakery chain La Boulange for $100 million in cash. Starbucks said it plans to serve La Boulange’s pastries, breads and sandwiches under the La Boulange name in its U.S. stores.

Dollar General Corp. (NYSE:DG) reported late Monday a fiscal first-quarter profit of $213.4 million, or 63 cents, a share, up from $157 million, or 45 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue for the quarter ended May 4 rose 11% to $3.9 billion from $3.5 billion.

Gold futures settled lower Monday, as downbeat economic data from the United States and China, as well as weakness in the dollar. Gold for August delivery fell $8.20, or 0.5%, to settle at $1,613.90 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.