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Indices closed with gains on Monday. Stocks stepped up as trade talks resumed and tensions eased. Additionally, Chinese technology firm Huawei was issued a 90-day extension by the U.S. Government to buy supplies from U.S. companies. Energy stocks were among the top performers on the day, likely helped by an increase in the related commodities. Markets closed in red territory on Tuesday, as investors appeared worried that a recession could be on the horizon with fears that world economic weakness could make its way to the United States. The major indices closed with gains mid-week, as minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee's July 30-31 meeting showed that the Fed noted some weakening in the U.S. economy. While the “overall outlook remained favorable, significant risks and uncertainties attending the outlook remained.” The minutes also added that “strong labor markets and rising incomes continued to support the outlook for consumer spending, [while] modest growth in prices and wages suggested that inflation pressures remained muted.” The following day, the market was mixed, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted slight gains while the S&P 500 Index and NASDAQ Composite finished fractionally lower. The yield curve inverted for the third time in less than two weeks. In economic news, initial jobless claims decreased as new claims slipped to 209,000 in the week ended August 17 from a revised 221,000 in the previous week. Indices closed near session lows on Friday. Many stocks retreated on trade tensions as China announced plans for retaliatory tariffs on more than 5,000 U.S. products. In reaction, President Trump said he'll increase tariffs from 25% to 30% on $250 billion of Chinese goods on October 1. Elsewhere, new home sales decreased in July. Commerce Department data showed sales fell 12.8% to an annual rate of 635,000 units. Economists had anticipated a pace of 649,000 units. The result marks the greatest monthly decline since July 2013.