U.S. Stocks End Lower As Volatility Spikes

U.S. stocks ended Monday's thinly-traded session lower as concerns about potentially weak earnings reports, as well as looming interest-rate hikes, eroded confidence among investors. Investors appeared nervous, with the CBOE Volatility Index, or Vix, jumping 14% to trade above 14, while the main benchmarks turned opening gains into losses. The S&P 500 closed 9.62 points, or 0.5%, lower at 2,092.44. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 80.61 points, or 0.5%, to 17,977.04. The Nasdaq Composite ended the session down 7.73 points, or 0.2%, to 4,988.25.