NEW YORK: US stocks ended modestly in the red on Monday following disappointing eurozone data that added to signs of recession in the debt-wracked region.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 27.02 points lower (0.21 percent) at 12,938.67.

The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite shed 15.40 points (0.52 percent) to 2,933.17, and the Standard and Poor's 500 index, a broad measure of the markets, lost 4.55 points (0.33 percent) to 1,357.66.

"US stocks finished modestly lower after hovering just below the flatline for most of the day, as some disappointing economic data from the eurozone rekindled recession concerns in the region," Charles Schwab analysts said.

On the blue-chip Dow, Wal-Mart was the steepest decliner, down 2.5 percent, extending Tuesday's slide following disappointing quarterly earnings.

Fellow Dow member Bank of America lost nearly 2.0 percent, while Hewlett-Packard dropped 1.3 percent.

Computer maker Dell fell 5.8 percent after posting fourth-quarter earnings a hair below Wall Street expectations.

After the market closed, H-P reported profit skidded 44 percent in its first quarter.

General Motors shed 1.9 percent. The French government announced that GM and French carmaker PSA Peugeot are in talks to forge a strategic partnership.

On Tuesday the Dow topped 13,000 for the first time since May 2008 but ended the session nearly flat amid news of the new bailout deal for Greece, soaring oil prices and disappointing Wal-Mart earnings. -- AFP