NEW YORK — U.S. stocks fell slightly Thursday, following a sell-off in the Chinese market and continued worries about the approaching debt-payment deadline for cash-starved Greece.
The overall market was quiet, with the Dow moving less than 100 points throughout the session. Energy and industrial stocks were among the biggest decliners. Most investors are in wait-and-see mode regarding Greece and the Federal Reserve, which is weighing when to begin raising interest rates.
The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 36.87 points, or 0.2 percent, to 18,126.12. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index edged down 2.69 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,120.79, and the Nasdaq composite lost 8.62 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,097.98.
In Greece, progress in talks between that country and its creditors is unclear. Greece said it expected to reach a deal to get more bailout loans in time to make a key debt payment June 5. Its creditors were quick to temper expectations.
Greece said it aims to clinch a deal by Sunday, which would allow it to receive the much-needed final installment of its international bailout and avoid a default.
Greece has given investors a headache for years now, and many are skeptical that this round of talks will resolve any of the country’s debt issues.
“They’re likely to kick the can down the road as they have been,” said Scott Wren, a market strategist with Wells Fargo. “At this point, I think we’re likely looking at Greece leaving the eurozone.”
In European markets, Greek stocks fell 1.7 percent. Germany’s DAX lost 0.8 percent, France’s CAC-40 lost 0.9 percent and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 index rose 0.1 percent.
