S&P 500 ends down after rallying to best November ever

REUTERS: The S&P 500 index ended lower on Monday as investors took profits following a sharp rally in recent weeks that led to the benchmark's best November ever.

Nine out of 11 of the major S&P 500 sectors fell, with the energy index tumbling 5.4per cent and leading losses, tracking a drop in crude prices.

The S&P 500 technology index rose 0.7per cent, thanks in part to a 2.1per cent rise in Apple Inc shares.

IHS Markit jumped 7.4per cent after data giant S&P Global agreed to buy the financial information provider in a US$44 billion deal that would be the biggest corporate acquisition of 2020.

Month-end rebalancing of portfolios played into Monday's weakness, analysts said, as investors cashed in on gains after a strong month marked by updates of COVID-19 vaccines making headway and hopes of a swift economic rebound next year.

A rotation into energy, industrials and financials, all expected by many investors to outperform as the economy recovers from its downturn, drove gains of almost 11per cent for the S&P 500 in November and helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average make its biggest monthly gain since 1987.

"I would attribute (Monday's drop) to compounding concerns over the coronavirus, combined with the market just looking to digest some of the recent gains over the past month," said CFRA Chief Investment Strategist Sam Stovall.

"When you sprint and get out of breath, you have to slow down to catch your breath."

After an explosion in infections and business restrictions this month that stalled the U.S. labor market recovery, the focus has shifted to Tuesday's address by Fed Chair Jerome Powell before the Senate Banking Committee, the Fed's Beige Book on Wednesday and the monthly jobs report on Friday. Graphic: S&P 500 set for its best November ever - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/oakvexldkpr/SPXper cent20NOV.png

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.91per cent to end at 29,638.64 points, while the S&P 500 lost 0.46per cent at 3,621.67.

The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.06per cent to 12,198.74.

For November, the S&P 500 gained 10.8per cent, the Dow added 11.9per cent and the Nasdaq climbed 11.8per cent. It was the biggest monthly gain for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq since April.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies surged 18.3per cent in November, its strongest monthly performance ever.

U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar said on Monday the first two vaccines against the novel coronavirus could be available to Americans before Christmas.

Moderna Inc surged 20per cent after it unveiled plans to apply for U.S. and European emergency authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine.

Macy's Inc and Kohl's Corp fell 5.9per cent and 3.9per cent, respectively, after masked shoppers turned up in smaller numbers at major U.S. retailers on Black Friday, as early online deals and concerns about a spike in COVID-19 cases dulled enthusiasm for mall trips.

Nikola Corp plummeted 27per cent after the company and General Motors Co announced a reworked deal on a fuel-cell partnership that eliminates an equity stake in the startup for the Detroit automaker and plans for building its electric pickup truck.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers on the NYSE by a 2.21-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.68-to-1 ratio favored decliners.

The S&P 500 posted 11 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 167 new highs and 4 new lows.

Volume on U.S. exchanges was 15.0 billion shares, compared with the 11.3 billion average over the last 20 trading days.

(Reporting by Noel Randewich; additional reporting by Shriya Ramakrishnan and Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard Chang and Sam Holmes)