U.S. stocks traded mostly lower Monday for a second session, but were off their worst levels, as investors focused on escalating tensions in the Middle East, in the aftermath of the killing of Iranian Major Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Iraqi soil.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 59 points, or 0.2%, at 28,577, the S&P 500 index retreated about a point to 3,234, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 13 points or 0.2%, at 9,034. All three benchmarks opened the session firmly lower.

On Friday, the Dow shed 233.92 points, or 0.8%, at 28,634.8. The S&P 500 fell 23 points, or 0.7%, to 3,234.85. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 71.42 points, or 0.8%, to 9,020.77. All three benchmarks finished off their lows for the session, however.

That decline marked the worst for the Dow and the S&P 500 since Dec. 3 and the sharpest daily slump for the Nasdaq since Dec. 2, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

Source: Marketwatch