US stocks fall as China weighs on markets

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are falling as investors worry about new signs of weakness in China's economy.

Worries about slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy pushed the down the price of oil, weighing on energy stocks.

The Standard & Poor's 500 dropped 16 points, or 0.8 percent, to 1,994 as of noon Eastern time Monday.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 77 points, or 0.5 percent, to 17,202. The Nasdaq composite dropped 57 points, or 1.2 percent, to 4,526.

Energy stocks fell the most in the S&P 500 index as the price of oil declined.

Home builder stocks fell after the National Association of Realtors said sales of previously occupied homes fell 1.8 percent last month.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.55 percent.