The Dow and S&P 500 snagged a fifth-straight win on Monday, as well as their fifth record close in the last six trading days. However, this one didn't come easy; both indexes traded deep in the red at its session lows today, weighed down by geopolitical and economic tailwinds. The Nasdaq wasn't as lucky, logging a small loss for the day, while the 10-year Treasury note dropped to 1.255%, taking much of the bank sector with it.

Meanwhile, there's rumblings that the Federal Reserve will start making moves to slow down its bond-buying program within the next couple of months. Investors are also keeping a close eye on U.S. President Joe Biden's speech concerning the Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan, following the withdraw of U.S. troops from the country. 

The Dow Jones Average (DJI - 35,625.40) rose 110 points or 0.3% for the day. UnitedHealth (UNH) topped the list of 30 Dow winners, rising 1.8%, while Boeing (BA) fell 2.3% to pace the laggards.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 4,479.71) added 11.7 points or 0.3% for the day. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 14,793.76) shed 29.1 points, or 0.2%, for the day.

Lastly, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 16.12) lost 0.7 points or 4.3%, for the day. 

OIL FALLS TO ONE-WEEK LOWS

Oil prices continued to tumble today, as rising Covid-19 cases and fears over a slowing global economy had investors fearing demand for the black gold could keep waning. Shorter-term, storms in the Atlantic also caused disruptions. September-dated crude lost $1.15, or 1.7%, to settle at $67.29, marking its lowest settlement since Monday, Aug. 9. 

Gold prices tacked on their second consecutive day of gains, getting a boost as dismal economic data, both in the U.S. and in China, weigh on bond yields and growth sentiment. December-dated gold added $11.60, or 0.7%, to settle at $1,789.80 an ounce today, marking its highest settlement since Friday, Aug. 6.