Stocks fall as oil prices dip

NEW YORK - U.S. stocks fell Monday as oil prices turned sharply lower and spooked investors into dumping shares of drillers and other energy-service companies.

The drop in oil weighed on stocks from the start of trading. Weak trade figures out of China and news that Japan's recession is deeper than initially thought suggested demand for crude would be lower in those two economies. Among the big losers were two Dow Jones industrial average components, Chevron, down 3.7 percent, and Exxon Mobil, off 2.3 percent.

More broadly, the six-month drop in oil, which has brought the price of crude down to the lowest level in five years, suggests headwinds for the U.S. economy, said Bill Strazzullo, chief market strategist at Bell Curve Trading.

"When you look at the major drivers of global growth - Japan, China, and the eurozone - they're really struggling," he said. "Can the U.S. continue to grow at a moderate pace when the rest of the world is having major problems?"

Energy shares in the Standard and Poor's 500, a broader index than the Dow, dropped to their lowest level in nearly two years. The decline of 3.9 percent was by far the biggest percentage drop among the 10 sectors in the index. Six of the 10 sectors fell.

The Dow lost 106.31 points, or 0.6 percent, to 17,852.48. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 15.06 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,060.31. The Nasdaq composite fell 40.06 points, or 0.8 percent, to 4,740.69

Stocks have been rising steadily since mid-October. An encouraging jobs report on Friday showing the biggest burst in hiring in nearly three years helped push the S&P 500 to a record, capping a seven-week winning streak, its longest this year.

For its part, the Dow came within nine points of breaching 18,000 points on Friday, just five months after passing 17,000.

But troubles in Asia and falling stocks in Europe on Monday put that milestone further from reach.

The news combined to push down benchmark crude 4 percent.

John Manley, chief stock strategist at Wells Fargo Funds, noted that there was an optimistic take on the oil slump. Falling oil means drivers saving money on filling their gas tanks, which could translate into people spending more in stores this holiday season. "If Americans have a bit more money, they tend to spend more," Manley said.

Benchmark crude oil dropped $2.79 to $63.05 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, which is used to price oil sold on international markets, dropped $2.88, or 4 percent, to $66.19 a barrel. Both prices are at their lowest levels since 2009.

In metals trading, the price of gold rose $4.50 to $1,194.90 an ounce, silver inched up two cents to $16.28 an ounce, and copper fell two cents to $2.89 a pound.