Dow ekes out 9th record close of 2019 as Boeing's stock rally contributes 112 points

U.S. stocks mostly ended lower Monday as comments from President Donald Trump over the weekend sparked some concern about a partial pact with China and the U.S. on trade. However, gains in Boeing Co. , helped the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average avoid a finish in negative territory, amid reports that the aviation and defense contractor will resume deliveries of its controversial 737 MAX as soon as January. Dow component Boeing contributed more than 112 points to the index, with a dollar gain in any one of the 30 Dow components translating to a 6.8-point swing in the stock-market gauge. The Dow closed less than 0.1% at 27,691. Equity benchmarks had been under pressure on the day as Trump over the weekend said discussions with China and the U.S. were going "very nicely," but cautioned that recent reports about an agreement to roll back tariffs, as a part of a preliminary trade resolution, weren't accurate. The Dow marked its ninth record finish this year. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 index closed 0.2% lower at 27,691, while the Nasdaq Composite Index finished 0.1% lower at 8,464. (All closing levels are on a preliminary).

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