U.S. stocks were little changed on Monday as investors looked ahead to the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole economic policy symposium later this week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 34.3 points, or 0.08 percent, to 44,911.82. The Standard and Poor's 500 edged down 0.65 points, or 0.01 percent, to 6,449.15, while the Nasdaq Composite inched up 6.8 points, or 0.03 percent, to 21,629.77.
Six of the 11 major Standard and Poor's 500 sectors closed lower, with real estate and communication services lagging, down 0.95 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively. Industrials and consumer discretionary led the gainers, rising 0.4 percent and 0.38 percent.
The Fed remains the key focus this week as policymakers head to Jackson Hole, U.S. state of Wyoming, for the annual symposium. Markets will be closely watching for signals on the future path of interest rates. According to CME's FedWatch tool, markets anticipate an 85 percent chance of a September rate cut.
Mega-cap tech shares were mostly weaker on Monday, weighing on the market. Meta Platforms fell more than 2 percent, while Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet and Broadcom edged lower. Tesla gained 1.39 percent, while Amazon and Nvidia also advanced slightly.
This week, investors will also turn their attention to earnings results from major retailers, including Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart and Target, for fresh insight into the health of the U.S. consumer.
U.S. stocks close mixed amid lack of catalyst
China is willing to strengthen communication, enhance trust, eliminate interference, and deepen cooperation with Canada to bring bilateral relations forward on a steady and sound track in solid strides under the new circumstances, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in Beijing on the day.
Referring to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China, the first by a Canadian prime minister in eight years, Wang said the trip marks a milestone in bilateral ties and signals a turning point in the relationship.
The leaders of the two countries will hold meetings and talks, which are expected to open up new prospects for bilateral relations, said Wang.
The world today is undergoing profound and complex changes, and the impact of China-Canada relations transcends the bilateral scope, Wang noted.
Wang said that China and Canada have different social systems, stemming from different historical and cultural heritage, and based on the choices of their respective people.
He urged both sides to view each other in a rational and amicable manner with an inclusive mindset, handle issues on the basis of mutual respect, focus on the agenda of cooperation, and send positive messages so as to foster optimism, inject greater confidence into the development of bilateral relations, and jointly build a new type of strategic partnership between China and Canada.
Anand said the new Canadian government attaches great importance to relations with China. She also added that Prime Minister Carney looks forward to engaging in in-depth exchanges with Chinese leaders during the visit to set the course for the development of bilateral relations, resume dialogue in various fields, pursue more mutually beneficial outcomes, enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, and further advance the strategic partnership between the two countries.
China ready to work for steady, sound ties with Canada: FM
