Dow Jones ends slightly down on Monday

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.