Dow Jones Industrial Average index closed lower on Monday as housing data and falling crude prices did not manage to offset concerns over Europe. Blue chip index slipped 0.01% or 1.44 points to 12,981.51 with financial sector being the one that posted relatively notable gains. Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase and Co each added 2%. On the downside Hewlett Packard was among the main decliners of Dow index for a seventh straight session dropping 1.5%. Overall 17 out of 30 stocks within the index lost ground.