The Dow Jones industrial average fell 2.19 points, or 0.01 percent to close at 20,979.75, with UnitedHealth leading decliners and Microsoft outperforming.
The S&P 500 dipped 1.65 points, or 0.07 percent, to end at 2,400.67, with utilities leading nine sectors lower and financials and information technology as the only advancers.
The Nasdaq advanced 20.20 points, or 0.33 percent, to close at 6,169.87.
About four stocks declined for every three advancers at the New York Stock Exchange, with an exchange volume of 792.30 million and a composite volume of 3.406 billion at the close.
On tap this week:
Tuesday
Earnings: Urban Outfitters, Jack in the Box, Vodafone, Staples, Manchester United
Wednesday
Earnings: Target, L Brands, Cisco System, Tencent, American Eagle Outfitters, Flower Foods, ZTO Express, Rexnord
7:00 a.m. Mortgage applications
Thursday
Earnings: Wal-Mart, Alibaba, Applied Materials, Autodesk, Salesforce.com, Gap, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, McKesson, Ross Stores, Buckle, Eagle Materials
8:30 a.m. Initial claims
8:30 a.m. Philadelphia Fed survey
1:00 p.m. Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester
Friday
Earnings: Campbell Soup, Deere, Foot Locker
9:15 a.m. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard
