Dow off 150 points early Monday as investors begin to turn attention to earnings

U.S. stock benchmarks on Monday rallied ahead of a the start of first-quarter corporate results, which unofficially kick off later this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.37% fell 155 points, or 0.6%, to reach 26,265, the S&P 500 index SPX, -0.13% retreated 0.3% to 2,884, while the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, -0.14% gave up 0.4% to 7,907 to start the week’s action. First-quarter corporate results are set to kick off later this week, which could help to determine if further gains for stocks are warranted. Trading thus far has been at least partly driven by optimism surrounding U.S.-China trade negotiations. The S&P 500 has climbed for seven straight stations, as of Friday’s finish. In corporate news, market participants were awaiting the public listing of Pinterest next week after the online-imaging company set its price range for $15 to $17 a share. Meanwhile, shares of Southwest Airlines LUV, -2.13% and Boeing Co. BA, -3.83% in aftermath of grounding of the 737 MAX fleet of jets, following a pair of fatal crashes. The decline in Boeing shares were producing the stiffest headwind for the Dow.

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