U.S. stocks closed the day lower after a bright start to the week that saw the S&P 500 get back to positive territory for the year gave way to increased uneasiness surrounding an escalation in tensions between the U.S. and China. The ordered closure of a U.S. consulate in China overshadowed upbeat global and domestic manufacturing and services data and a 13-year high in new home sales. Earnings season continued in earnest, headlined by Dow members Intel, Verizon Communication

U.S. equities finished out a bumpy week mixed, dashing hopes of a three-peat for all the major indexes to post weekly gains, as a recent pullback in tech shares pushed the Nasdaq into negative territory for the week. The persistent rise in new COVID-19 cases appeared to be the main culprit in the lack of conviction, despite a recent string of upbeat global economic data and further progress out of the Health Care sector on finding an answer to the pandemic. In economic news,

U.S. stocks finished higher with the technology sector extending a recent surge that returned the Nasdaq back to record highs, while equities that have been punished by uneasiness regarding the persistent rise in new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. rebounded. Gilead Sciences contributed to the rebound of economic "reopening" stocks after it announced more positive results from a study of its COVID-19 treatment candidate known as Remdesivir. WD-40 missed quarterly expectations, For

U.S. stocks are extending last week's solid advance coming off a long holiday weekend, with the global markets appearing to be buoyed by recent economic data suggesting a recovery in activity, and supported by the foundation of the massive monetary and fiscal policy relief measures. Equity markets in China and Hong Kong surged to lay the groundwork, while M&A is in focus, with Uber Technologies agreeing to acquire Postmates for nearly $2.7 billion and Berkshire Hathaway purch