NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) - US stocks fell in early trading on Monday, the second-to-last trading day of 2019, as investors moved to lock in profits.

(File photo: AFP)

Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 92.38 points, or 0.32 percent, to 28,552.88. The S&P 500 was down 12.65 points, or 0.39 percent, to 3,227.37. The Nasdaq Composite Index erased 68.98 points, or 0.77 percent, to 8,937.64.

Most of the Dow component companies traded in red territory, with Home Depot and Microsoft dropping 1.20 percent and 1.14 percent respectively, leading the laggards.

Eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors declined, with information technology down 1.05 percent, lagging behind the rest groups.

US equities have enjoyed a strong rally in December, with the main indexes hitting record highs last week amid year-end optimism.

Market sentiment has been lifted by easing tensions over US-China trade relations after the two countries agreed on the text of phase-one trade deal earlier this month.