U.S. markets ended lower on Monday as traders remained cautious amid US-Iran developments and oil supply concerns, while attention shifts to results from major firms like Alphabet and Intel, expected to shape sentiment on corporate health and future growth outlook. Some concern also came as the Conference Board released a report showing a modest pullback by its reading on leading U.S. economic indicators in the month of June. The Conference Board said its leading economic index dipped by 0.2 percent in June after inching up by 0.1 percent in May. The street had expected the index to edge down by 0.1 percent. On the sectoral front, pharmaceutical stocks came under pressure over the course of the session, dragging the NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical Index down by 2 percent. Biotechnology, transportation and health care stocks also notable weakness, while software stocks turned in a strong performance on the day.
Nasdaq dragged 12.17 points or 0.05 percent to 25,508.07, S&P 500 down 14.41 points or 0.19 percent to 7,443.28 and Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 307.16 points or 0.59 percent to 51,839.26.
