(CNBC) — U.S. stocks closed lower in light volume trade Monday, the start to the last trading week of the year, as a renewed slide in oil prices weighed.
Energy was off more than 1.5 percent to lead S&P decliners in afternoon trade, taking the S&P 500 back into negative territory for the year so far.
"It continues to show all eyes continue to be on oil right now and the real story is, when does oil come to a bottom, and what are the additional pressures from oil and energy companies that people are worried about," said Jeff Carbone, co-founder and managing partner of Cornerstone Financial Partners.
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