U.S. Stocks Open Lower; Retailers Hit

U.S. stocks retreated from record levels on Monday as investors returned from holidays to a batch of depressing economic news from China and volatile commodity prices. Weak Black Friday sales were putting pressure on retailers. The S&P 500 opened 8 points, or 0.4%, lower at 2,059. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 54 points, or 0.3%, to 17,773. The Nasdaq Composite began the day down 13 points, or 0.3% at 4,779.