US STOCKS SNAPSHOT-Wall St dips at open, defensive sectors fall

NEW YORK, April 8 (Reuters) – U.S. stocks opened slightly

lower on Monday, following the S&P; 500’s largest weekly decline

this year, with defensive sectors weighing the most on the

benchmark index.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 22.65 points or

0.16 percent, to 14,542.6, the S&P; 500 lost 0.87 point or

0.06 percent, to 1,552.41 and the Nasdaq Composite added

3.96 points or 0.12 percent, to 3,207.82.

Telecommunications, healthcare and utilities were the worst

performing sectors on the S&P.;