Stocks Ended Mostly Lower, Nasdaq Posted Record High

U.S. stocks ended mostly lower on Monday, as worries about COVID-19’s spread escalated. The Nasdaq, however, outperformed and rose to a fresh record closing high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 148.47 points, 0.49%, to 30,069.79. The S&P was down 7.16 points, or 0.19%, to 3,691.96. The Nasdaq Composite gained 55.71 points, or 0.45%, to 12,519.95.

Oil futures edged lower on Monday, as the rise in U.S. COVID-19 cases fed expectations for lower fuel demand. West Texas Intermediate crude for January delivery fell 50 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $45.76 a barrel. February Brent crude lost 46 cents, or 0.9%, at $48.79 a barrel.