US stocks edge down as crude drop hurts oil shares

NEW YORK, Nov 13 (Reuters) US stocks mostly edged lower on Monday as a slate of key inflation and retail reports this week kept investors on edge while a drop in oil prices hurt shares of major oil companies.

The drop in oil prices depressed shares of companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp. Exxon shares fell 0.5 percent to .07 on the New York Stock Exchange and were the biggest drag on the Dow at the open.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 12.41 points, or 0.10 percent, at 12,096.02. The Standard&Poor's 500 Index was down 0.64 points, or 0.05 percent, at 1,380.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 4.83 points, or 0.02 percent, however, at 2,395.05.

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