Stocks Opened Lower amid Protests, US-China Tensions

U.S. stocks opened modestly lower on Monday, with investors watching violent protests that reverberated throughout the country, amid signs of rising Sino-American trade tensions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately fell 141.91 points, or 0.56%, to 25,241.20. The S&P 500 shed 9.56 points, or 0.31%, to 3,034.75. The Nasdaq Composite retreated 8.48 points, or 0.09%, to 9,481.40.

U.S. oil futures on Monday were trading mixed amid a report that Russia was moving toward a compromise that could result in extending a global pact to trim production and stabilize oil prices. WTI crude for July delivery was off 15 cents, or 0.4%, at $35.34 a barrel. Brent saw its August contract rise 18 cents, or 0.5%, to $38.04 a barrel.

Bloomberg reported China had ordered some state-run agricultural companies to halt purchases of American farm goods.