U.S. stocks were mixed after the close on Monday, as gains in the Telecoms, Oil & Gas and Financials sectors led shares higher while losses in the Technology, Consumer Services and Consumer Goods sectors led shares lower.

The Dow Jones spent early Thursday in the doldrums, holding on the low end despite an overall uptick in US equity markets. The index waffled below 40,750 before catching a late break into the high side, returning to challenge the 41,000 key price level once more.