U.S. stocks were lower in morning trading on Monday as uncertainty over a U.S. tax reform deal and GE`s dismal outlook hit investor sentiment.
General Electric fell 3.5 percent after the industrial conglomerate cut its 2018 profit forecast, slashed dividend and unveiled a restructuring plan. The stock weighed the most on the S&P 500 index.
The S&P and the Dow ended the week lower for the first time in nine weeks on Friday after Senate Republicans unveiled a new tax plan that differed from the House of Representatives` version.
Hopes of lower taxes, one of President Donald Trump`s main campaign promises, have helped drive the S&P 500 up 20 percent since the 2016 presidential election.
"We`re entering a period of uncertainty, until the tax bill is either passed or till we have more details," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at First Standard Financial in New York.
"Any disappointment on corporate tax deductions will probably set the stage for the market to pull back."
With third-quarter earnings season on its last leg, investors are closely tracking developments around the tax bill as well as economic data to make their bets.
With the Federal Reserve`s policy meeting a month away, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker said that he expected to back an interest rate hike next month despite caution over low inflation.
Harker said he expected the Fed to raise rates three times next year as long as inflation remains on track.
At 9:38 a.m. ET (1338 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 53.56 points, or 0.23 percent, at 23,368.65, the S&P 500 was down 6.81 points, or 0.26 percent, at 2,575.49 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 25.10 points, or 0.37 percent, at 6,725.84.
Nine of the 11 major S&P indexes were lower, led by industrial and financial stocks.
Toymaker Mattel jumped about 20 percent after a report that rival Hasbro has made an approach to acquire the company. Hasbro rose 5.7 percent.
JD.com rose nearly 6 percent as China`s second largest e-commerce firm reported revenue that beat estimates, as the firm attracted more shoppers.
Qualcomm rose 1.33 percent after the chipmaker rejected rival Broadcom`s $103-billion takeover bid, saying the offer "dramatically" undervalued the company. Broadcom fell 1 percent.
Declining issues outnumbered advancers on the NYSE by 1,806 to 747. On the Nasdaq, 1,788 issues fell and 655 advanced.
(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
08:36 PM IST