Stocks Ended Lower on Protectionism Worry

U.S. stocks closed marginally lower on Monday amid concerns about G20 financial leaders’ decision to drop a pledge to keep global trade free and open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 8.76 points, or 0.04%,to 20,905.86. The S&P 500 was off 4.78 points, or 0.20%, to 2,373.47. The Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.53 point, or 0.01%, to 5,901.53.

Oil prices settled at their lowest level in nearly a week, as another rise in active U.S. oil rigs renewed concerns over domestic production. April West Texas Intermediate crude shed 56 cents, or 1.2%, to finish at $48.22 a barrel. May Brent crude gave up 14 cents, or 0.3%, to $51.62 a barrel.

News has been published that Albertsons has been in early-stage discussions with Sprouts regarding a potential merger. Sprouts stock price rallied last week by nearly 24 percent.

A flag with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) logo is seen before a news conference at OPEC’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, December 10, 2016.