Slumping oil drags U.S. stocks lower ahead of earnings

U.S. stocks ended Monday’s session with losses for the second straight trading session, as a renewed assault on oil prices eroded investor confidence ahead of the start of fourth-quarter earnings season.

The S&P 500 SPX, -0.81%  fell 16.55 points, or 0.8%, to 2,028.26, as nine of 10 main sectors finished lower. Energy sector lost 2.8%, while the technology sector was down 1.3%. Telecoms were the only bright spot, ending 0.6% higher.