U.S. stocks traded higher midway through trading, with the Dow Jones index gaining around 0.2% on Monday.

The Dow traded up 0.18% to 46,587.32 while the NASDAQ gained 0.35% to 21,954.78. The S&P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.25% to 6,599.14.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Financial shares climbed by 0.6% on Monday.

In trading on Monday, materials stocks fell by 0.5%.

Top Headline

The ISM services PMI declined to 54 in March from 56.1 in the previous month, versus market estimates of 55.

Equities Trading UP

Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. ( SLNO ) shares shot up 32% to $52.19 after the company announced that it will be acquired by Neurocrine Biosciences for $53 per share in cash.

Shares of Profusa, Inc. ( PFSA ) got a boost, surging 145% to $1.8600 after the company announced it will acquire the PanOmics multi-omics diagnostics platform from BioInsights LLC for approximately $30 million in stock.

Playtika Holding Corp. ( PLTK ) shares were also up, gaining 13% to $3.0950 after the company launched a review of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.

Equities Trading DOWN

Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. ( FIGR ) shares dropped 8% to $31.87 as the company reported preliminary March & first-quarter operating data.

Shares of Nvni Group Limited ( NVNI ) were down 29% to $1.12 after the company announced that it will acquire a 51% stake in the American business of global IT consulting and technology services firm Beyondsoft for approximately $81 million.

Ridgetech, Inc. ( RDGT ) was down, falling 27% to $0.018 after the company announced a 1-for-150 reverse stock split.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded up 0.1% to $111.60 while gold traded up 0.3% at $4,693.20.

Silver traded down 0.1% to $72.905 on Monday, while copper rose 0.7% to $5.6210.

Euro zone

European shares were mostly lower today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 fell 0.2%, while Spain's IBEX 35 Index fell 0.1%. London's FTSE 100 gained 0.85%, Germany's DAX dipped 0.73% and France's CAC 40 fell 0.12% during the session.

Asia Pacific Markets

Asian markets closed higher on Monday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining 0.55%, and India's BSE Sensex gaining 1.07%.

Economics

The ISM services PMI declined to 54 in March from 56.1 in the previous month, versus market estimates of 55.