Wall Street Ends Day Lower as Bond Yields Fall A surprise decline in June retail sales was the latest worrying sign from the economy, pushing stocks slightly lower on Monday, but Citigroup shares limited losses after it reported earnings The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index ended the day down 0.2 percent. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 0.4 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.4 percent. Concern about a slowing global economy spurred a rally in safe-haven government debt prices, driving yields lower. The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes fell to 1.442 percent, matching the level set on June 1, which was the lowest going back to the early 1800s. The weak data added to caution ahead of the testimony from Ben S. Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chairman, who will make his semiannual presentation before Congressional panels on Tuesday and Wednesday. Investors will parse his words for clues about the possibility and timing of another round of stimulus. Central banks from Europe, China and Brazil earlier this month cut interest rates to bolster fragile growth, underscoring growing worries about a slowing global economy. But analysts said Mr. Bernanke is likely to remain noncommittal. "While this morning's U.S. consumer spending report hardens the case" for a third round of quantitative easing, "it does not change our view that nothing new will come from Bernanke on Tuesday and Wednesday," said Kathy Lien, managing director of FX Strategy for BK Asset Management in New York. While Citigroup rallied after posting stronger-than-expected profit on Monday, many investors remain concerned about the impact economic uncertainty will have on outlooks. Retail sales unexpectedly fell in June, dropping 0.5 percent, compared with the expectation of 0.2 percent growth. A second report on Monday showed manufacturing in New York State rose in July by a bit more than forecast. "This is another example of how broader economic uncertainty is having an impact on economic activity," said Eric Fine, managing director of Van Eck G-175 Strategies in New York, speaking of the retail sales figures. Many companies, especially in the technology space, have issued profit warnings in recent weeks. The ratio of negative to positive earnings guidance for the second quarter is 3.3 to 1, the worst since 2008, Thomson Reuters data showed. Citigroup reported adjusted second-quarter earnings that beat expectations, sending shares up 0.6 percent. The results follow JPMorgan Chase's earning report on Friday, which contributed to gains of 1 percent on major indexes. "Citigroup is just one company; the fact that there are still concerns about lower economic growth globally is what's keeping us in lower territory now," said Jay Feuerstein, chief executive of the Chicago-based 2100 Xenon Group, an alternative asset manager. In Europe, the Euro Stoxx 50 index ended the trading day 0.3 percent lower. London's FTSE closed 0.1 percent lower, the CAC 40 in Paris was flat and the DAX in Frankfurt rose 0.1 percent. The impact of global economic issues will remain a focus in a busy week for earnings. In addition to Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Intel, Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola are on tap to report this week.