Stocks Edged Lower at Open on Trade Tensions

U.S. stocks opened lower on Wednesday, as testy talks between the U.S. and Canada on trade were set to resume after ending last week without an agreement. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately gained 3.23 points, or 0.01%, to 25,955.71. The S&P 500 declined 6.79 points, or 0.23%, to 2,889.93. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 52.33 points, or 0.65%, to 8,038.92.

Oil prices edged lower Wednesday amid easing concerns that a storm along the U.S. Gulf Coast would hinder production, as well as from the sting of a stronger dollar. October West Texas Intermediate crude was down 89 cents, or 1.3%, to $68.98 a barrel. November Brent was down 78 cents, or 1%, to $77.39 a barrel.