Stocks fell Monday after a big drop in Chinese markets heightened worries that U.S. markets have risen too far and too quickly. Despite Monday's losses, the Dow industrials and Standard & Poor's 500 recorded their best August performance since 2000. For the month, the Dow gained 3.5 percent, and the S&P rose 3.3 percent. The Nasdaq rose 1.5 percent in August. September is historically a weak month for stocks, and investors are preparing for a possible decline following a surprisingly strong summer rally. Stocks opened sharply lower on Monday, following a 6 percent decline in the Shanghai composite index. The sell-off in China raised concerns about the global economy. Oil prices fell almost 5 percent, declining below $70 a barrel. Light sweet crude for October delivery fell $3.07 to $69.68 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The U.S. dollar fell versus the euro and the yen. --MORE
