US stocks lower amid mixed economic data

In this Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, file photo, stock trader Gregory Rowe works at the New York Stock Exchange in New York. US stocks Monday finished lower amid mixed US economic data to kick off the first full week of trade of 2014. AP

NEW YORK—US stocks Monday finished lower amid mixed US economic data to kick off the first full week of trade of 2014.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 44.89 (0.27 percent) to 16,425.10.

The broad-based S&P 500 declined 4.60 (0.25 percent) to 1,826.77, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gave up 18.23 (0.44 percent) at 4,113.68.

Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital, said investors were somewhat disappointed by a report showing slowing growth in the service sector in December.

On the flip side, Cardillo pointed to a strong report on new factory orders, which in November reached their highest level since 1992.

Cardillo said the market is unlikely to record major moves before Wednesday’s release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s December meeting, and Friday’s monthly jobs report.

“What we’re seeing is basically a market that’s on hold,” Cardillo said.

Social networking company Twitter fell 3.9 percent after a Morgan Stanley report said Google and Facebook offered a better investment on Internet advertising at current valuations. Google rose 1.2 percent, while Facebook gained 4.8 percent.

Internet radio company Pandora shot up 14.1 percent on company data showing its share of the total US radio audience rose to 8.6 percent in December from 7.6 percent a year earlier.

Dow component Boeing rose 0.6 percent after announcing that it reached records in 2013 for deliveries and unfilled orders for commercial aircraft. The news followed a vote Friday by a key Boeing labor union to approve an eight-year contract at its major production site in Washington state.

Satellite broadcaster Sirius XM Holdings jumped 7.3 percent following a proposal by Liberty Media to purchase the Sirius shares it does not already own in a deal worth some $10 billion. Liberty Media fell 2.2 percent.

Wireless carrier T-Mobile USA rose 3.7 percent after announcing a deal worth $3.3 billion with Verizon Wireless to acquire low-band spectrum to strengthen its coverage in major urban areas. Dow component Verizon Communications increased 0.6 percent.

Retailer Men’s Wearhouse rose 2.2 percent after launching a hostile bid to acquire rival Jos. A. Bank at $57.50 per share, up from a November offer of $55 per share. Jos. A. Bank jumped 4.5 percent.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury dipped to 2.96 percent from 3.00 percent Friday, while the 30-year declined to 3.90 percent from 3.93 percent. Bond prices and yields move inversely.