US stocks fell Monday ahead of the opening of earnings season, with the slow economy and worries about European stability and Chinese growth pressing down on sentiment.
But insurer Wellpoint's US$4.9 billion deal to take over smaller rival Amerigroup gave a spark to healthcare stocks, helping the sector buck the downtrend.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 36.18 points (0.28 percent) to 12,736.29, having earlier been down as much as 86 points.
SABIC contributes to national development
The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) sponsored the Industrial Innovation Award which was presented to developers of new ideas for industrial projects at a ceremony held in Riyadh on May 18.