US equity markets settled with modest declines and snapped a three session winning streak, with some citing the soft China trade data published over the weekend - Dow down -105-points or -0.38%, with Apple Inc (down -1.4%) leading the index lower. The broader S&P500 -0.32%, with Health Care (down -0.68%) and Utilities (-0.49%) and Information Technology (-0.48%) the weakest of the primary sectors. The NASDAQ -0.42%. In merger and acquisition (M&A) news, Merck & Co. Inc dipped -0.20% after the pharmaceutical company said it would buy ArQule Inc (up +104%) in a deal worth US$2.7B. Separately, UnitedHealth Group Inc subsidiary OptumRx’s is acquiring Diplomat Pharmacy Inc (down -32.7%) for $4 a share, well below last Friday’s closing price of US$5.81.
