NEW YORK, June 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks traded on a downbeat note on Monday, with the Dow suffering a triple-digit loss.

At midday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 163.29 points, or 0.65 percent, to 24,927.19. The S&P 500 fell 10.33 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,769.33. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 15.07 points, or 0.19 percent, to 7,731.31.

Investors were digesting a batch of economic data.

The U.S. National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) monthly confidence index fell two points to 68 in June, lower than the market forecast of 70, according to data released on Monday.

Major components of the U.S. overall NAHB index fell in June as compared with the previous month. The gauge of present single family sales slipped to 75 from 76 in May, while the gauge of future sales conditions fell one point from May to 76.

The NAHB index rates the relative level of current and future single-family home sales. A reading above 50 indicates a favorable outlook on home sales while below indicates a negative outlook.

No major corporate earnings are scheduled to be published. Enditem