Global Stocks: U.S. stock indices mostly declined

U.S. stock indices mostly retreated on Monday with energy stocks leading declines amid weak oil prices.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 23.65, or 0.1%, to 17,623.05. The S&P 500 declined 3.97 points, or 0.2%, to 2,071.18 (its energy sector fell 2.5%). The Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 2.84, or less than 0.1%, to 5,034.70.

Monday session was range bound as investors were cautious ahead of a Federal Reserve's meeting and prepared for quarterly earnings reports from 170 companies on the S&P 500 due this week.

In U.S. futures markets, traders put a 4% probability on a Fed rate hike at this week's policy meeting. They put a 33% chance on an increase in December.

This morning in Asia Hong Kong Hang Seng fell 0.81%, or 186.83, to 22,929.42. China Shanghai Composite Index lost 1.82%, or 62.25, to 3.367.33. The Nikkei fell 0.92%, or 174.51, to 18,772.61.

Asian indices were weighed by declines in commodity prices and China industrial profits data.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported that profits of Chinese industrial companies fell 0.1% y/y in September compared to an 8.8% plunge in August. "Even though the rate of industrial losses narrowed in September, given that downward pressure on the industrial economy continues, the industrial profit outlook is still not optimistic," the NBS said.