Stocks Opened Lower, Retreating from Record Highs

U.S. stocks opened lower on Friday, pulling back from record highs, as investor attention turned back to coronavirus lockdowns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately fell 174.51 points, or 0.56%, to 31,001.50. The S&P 500 lost 17.24 points, or 0.45%, to 3,835.83. The Nasdaq Composite declined 59.84 points, or 0.44%, to 13,471.07.

Oil futures traded sharply lower on Friday amid talk of expanded lockdown measures in Europe and reports of a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in China and Southeast Asia. West Texas Intermediate crude for March delivery was trading $1.32, or 2.5%, lower at $51.82 a barrel. March Brent crude was shedding $1.28, or 2.3%, at $54.82 a barrel.