Global Stocks: U.S. stock indices little changed

U.S. stock indices posted minor changes in Friday's short trade as declines in energy companies offset gains in telecommunication and utility companies.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 14.90 points, or less than 0.1%, to 17,798.49. The S&P 500 edged up 1.24 points, or less than 0.1%, to close at 2,090.11 (seven out of its 10 components ended higher). The Nasdaq Composite added 11.38 points, or 0.2% to 5,127.52.

The National Retail Federation expects sales to grow 3.7% this holiday season compared to the 4.1% rise a year ago. Nevertheless this increase would still be above the 10-year average of 2.5% growth. Online sales are expected to grow 6-8% compared to the 5.8% gain seen last year.

This morning in Asia Hong Kong Hang Seng added 0.02%, or 4.01, to 22,072.33. China Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.99%, or 68.37, to 3.367.94. The Nikkei declined 0.64%, or 128.22, to 19,755.72.

Asian indices mostly fell on Monday morning. Chinese stocks declined as investors remained concerned over authorities' speculation investigations into brokerages, which formally started last week. Meanwhile Chinese banks gained amid news that the yuan was likely to be included into the Special Drawing Rights basket of currencies by the International Monetary Fund becoming an official reserve currency.