Investing.com - U.S. stocks opened mixed on Monday, as concerns over tensions in Ukraine and Vietnam dampened risk sentiment, while markets eyed the minutes of the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow 30 slipped 0.14%, the S&P 500 dipped 0.02%, while the NASDAQ Composite edged up 0.08%.
Markets were jittery as clashes between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country continued on Monday, resulting in the death of one Ukrainian soldier.
Meanwhile, violent anti-Chinese protests continued in Vietnam following a territorial dispute over the South China Sea.
Investors also remained cautious ahead of the minutes from the Fed’s latest monetary policy meeting, due for release on Wednesday, as they awaited insight on the central bank's view of the economy.
AT&T (NYSE:T) saw shares tumble 1.62% after announcing that it plans to buy DIRECTV (NASDAQ:DTV) for $48.5 billion, gaining more than 38 million video subscribers in the U.S. and in Latin America and stepping up an acquisition-fueled overhaul of the $110 billion U.S. pay-TV industry.
DirecTV shares plunged 2.33% at the open of the U.S. trading session.
Elsewhere in M&A news, General Electric (NYSE:GE), down 0.49%, was said to be in early-stage talks with nuclear-plant maker Areva (PARIS:AREVA) and other French companies about asset sales or partnerships. GE is currently seeking approval from France’s government for its $17 billion bid on Alstom (PARIS:ALSO).
On the upside, Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) jumped 1.48% after Astrazeneca (LONDON:AZN) rejected a the U.S. drugmaker's sweetened £69.4 billion ($117 billion) takeover offer, considered as too low. The U.K. company said the bid fails to reflect the value of the its pipeline of experimental medicines.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) added to gains, up 0.38%, after the auto maker said on Friday that it had entered into a consent decree with the U.S. government over its ongoing ignition switch recall. The company is set to pay a $35 million fine.
In earnings news, Campbell Soup (NYSE:CPB) reported weaker-than-expected quarterly sales and lowered its full-year revenue growth forecast, sending shares in the canned soup maker down 4.79%.
Other stocks likely to be in focus included Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ:URBN), scheduled to report quarterly earnings after the closing bell.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 slipped 0.16%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.18%, Germany's DAX inched 0.03% higher, while Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.26%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng dipped 0.04%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.64%.