U.S. stock market indexes declined in Monday's early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated eight-tenths of a percent, the S&P 500 fell seven-tenths of a percent and the NASDAQ lost six-tenths of a percent.

European stock markets were lower in afternoon trading. London's Financial Times 100 index lost nine-tenths of a percent, the CAC-40 in Paris moved down 1.2 percent, and the DAX in Frankfurt slid eight-tenths of a percent.

Earlier in Asia, Japanese markets were closed for a holiday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slipped three-tenths of a percent to end at 21,805.

The price of gold rose more than $6 to trade at $1,599.68 an ounce. Earlier, gold hit a new record high above $1,600 an ounce.

The dollar was lower against the yen but made gains compared to the euro.