Stocks Ended Mixed Monday, Posted Best August in Decades

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Monday, but finishing August with their best gains in decades. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 223.82 points, or 0.78%, to 28,430.05 and posted a monthly gain of 7.6%. The S&P 500 was down 7.70 points, or 0.22%, to 3,500.31 and notched a 7% gain for August. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 79.82 points, or 0.68%, to 11,775.46 and logged a 9.6% August gain.

Oil futures finished with a loss Monday, though with signs of a recovery in energy demand contributing to a fourth straight monthly gain for U.S. benchmark crude. West Texas Intermediate crude for October delivery rose 36 cents, or 0.8%, to settle at $42.61 a barrel. November Brent crude ended 53 cents, or 1.2%, lower at $45.28 a barrel.