Stocks struggled to make headway on Monday, with the Dow and S&P 500 finishing flat and Nasdaq settling slightly below breakeven. The Dow and Nasdaq were both up triple digits at their session highs. 

Rising bond yields weighed on the latter, as investors look ahead to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's testimony before the Senate Banking Committee over the next two days, which could offer clues as to the central bank's stance on interest rate hikes going forward. 

OIL PRICES EDGE HIGHER AS GOLD PRICE FLATTEN

Oil prices closed higher on Monday, as traders brushed off China's modest economic growth target of roughly 5%. Higher Arab light crude oil prices boosted confidence in demand growth expectations. April-dated crude settled 78 cents higher, or 1%, to finish at $80.46 per barrel.

Gold prices settled near breakeven ahead of Fed Chair Powell’s congressional testimony over the next two days. April-dated gold closed at $1,854.60 for the day.

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