01:08 PM EDT, 08/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes traded mixed midday Monday as geopolitical risk kept investors at bay ahead of President Donald Trump's trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders to discuss the likely tough conditions from Moscow to end the war.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1% to 21,569.8, and the S&P 500 slipped 0.1% to 6,440.5. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 44,923.1. Communication services and real estate led the decliners, while the industrial sector was among the gainers intraday.

Zelensky will be joined by key European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, when he meets with Trump on Monday at the White House in Washington, D.C., according to media reports.

Trump said Zelensky must agree to some of Russia's conditions, including ceding Crimea and agreeing never to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, for the war to end, CNN reported. Trump is now focused on securing a peace deal without first aiming for a ceasefire, US envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN.

Most US Treasury yields rose, but only slightly. The 10-year yield was up less than one basis point to 4.34% and the two-year rate climbed less than one basis point to 3.76%.

The ICE US Dollar Index rose 0.3% to 98.16.

Gold futures fell 0.1% to $3,378.6 per ounce, and silver futures climbed 0.2% to $38.04.

In addition to monitoring geopolitical developments, investors are awaiting the beginning of the Jackson Hole Symposium on Thursday. The gathering of global central banks in Wyoming this week will be watched closely, as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could use the podium on Friday to signal the restart of monetary policy easing in September.

By Monday afternoon, the odds of a 25-basis-point cut next month stood at 83%, down from 99.99% on Wednesday, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. The remaining 17% probability is for the rates to remain unchanged, versus 41% a month earlier. A difficult balancing act faces policymakers, who are staring at a weak labor market and untamed inflation uncomfortably above their 2% target level.

In economic news on Monday, the National Association of Home Builders' monthly housing market index declined to 32 in August from 33 in July, compared with expectations for an increase to 34 in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.

"Housing affordability is central to the outlook for economic growth and inflation," NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz said. "Given a slowing housing market and other recent economic data, the Fed's monetary policy committee should return to lowering the federal funds rate, which will reduce financing costs for housing construction and indirectly help mortgage interest rates."

In company news, Dayforce ( DAY ) shares soared 26% intraday, the top performer on the S&P 500, after Bloomberg reported that the company is being considered for takeover by Thoma Bravo, citing people familiar with the matter.

Meta Platforms ( META ) is planning yet another restructuring of its artificial intelligence efforts, its fourth overhaul in six months, The Information reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Shares dropped 2.6% intraday, among the worst performers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose 0.5% to $63.12 a barrel.