In this Oct. 2, 2014 photo, the statue of George Washington on the steps of Federal Hall faces the facade of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. U.S. stocks opened higher Monday, Oct. 6, 2014, as investors assessed corporate news. But the Dow ultimately fell about 17 points on Monday. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks are closing slightly lower, giving up an early gain.
Tax preparer H&R Block slumped 6 percent after the company said that its attempt to sell a banking unit was getting bogged down.
Hewlett-Packard rose 5 percent after announcing that it is splitting itself in two.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 17 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,991 Monday.
The Standard and Poor's 500 index fell three points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,964. The Nasdaq composite fell 20 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,454.
U.S. government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.42 percent.