Momentum in the stock market slowed on Monday. A recent rally had been driven by strong profits from large US companies. Earnings are expected to show significant growth from the same period last year.

The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both dipped slightly, while the Nasdaq composite fell more sharply. Oil prices, meanwhile, rose due to uncertainty over a key global shipping route. Further information on the stock market and oil prices is available from the original report, which provides more details on the current market trends and the factors influencing them.