NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are heading lower in midday trading as the market comes off its biggest weekly decline since the summer.
Natural gas companies were plunging Monday as the price of the commodity fell sharply. Natural gas, which is used for heating, has been sinking because of unseasonably warm winter weather in the U.S.
Range Resources and Chesapeake Energy each fell 6 percent.
In deal news, Jarden gained 1 percent after the company agreed to be acquired by fellow consumer products maker Newell Rubbermaid. Newell sank 10 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 41 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,219 in midday trading.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost nine points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,003. The Nasdaq composite gave up 37 points, or 0.8 percent, to 4,895.
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