Stocks Ended Sharply Lower in First Session of 2021

U.S. stocks ended sharply lower on Monday in the first sesson of 2021, as investors worried about new strains of the coronavirus. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 382.59 points, 1.25%, to 30,223.89. The S&P 500 fell 55.42 points, or 1.48%, to 3,700.65. The Nasdaq Composite declined 189.83 points, or 1.47%, to 12,698.45.

Oil futures finished lower on Monday after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies failed to reach an agreement on production policy. West Texas Intermediate crude for February delivery fell 90 cents, or nearly 1.9%, to settle at $47.62 a barrel. March Brent crude declined by 71 cents, or 1.4%, at $51.09 a barrel.