The New York Stock Exchange was indecisive on Monday as investors awaited data that could fuel discussions on the reality of a threatened recession.

At the end of the morning, the Dow Jones index was down 0.5% at 39,315.3 points, while the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.2% at 16,774.5 points.315.3 points, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced by 0.2% to 16,774.5 points.

Signs of nervousness have been multiplying for over a month on Wall Street, where last week the Dow Jones interrupted a series of four consecutive weeks of gains by retreating by over 2%.

The Nasdaq Composite, meanwhile, has officially entered correction territory, tumbling more than 10% since its recent high on July 10.

After an idyllic first half of the year for the stock markets, managers and analysts are now turning their anxious eyes to a second half of the year that could bring even more turbulence.

The main question on the minds of market participants will be whether the US economy is heading for a soft landing, or a possible slide back into recession.

The trend could be particularly influenced by US retail sales figures for July, due out on Thursday.

The consensus forecast is for a 0.3% rise in sales, following stability the previous month, which would testify to the strength of consumer demand.

Inflation figures, due on Wednesday, should definitively confirm the scenario of a rate cut next month.

On the US earnings front, consumer spending will also be in the spotlight this week, with Home Depot's quarterly results due tomorrow, followed by Walmart's on Thursday.

The performance of Cisco, the network equipment giant, will also be closely watched.

On the bond market, the yield on 10-year Treasuries continues to fall to 3.93%, at one-year lows, reflecting investors' risk aversion and search for quality.

The oil market continued its recent recovery, with US light crude up 1.9% at $78.3.

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