U.S. stocks closed at their lowest levels in a month on Monday in a sign of increasing doubt that equity markets can weather recent weakness in global manufacturing and demand.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> lost 131.16 points, or 1.05 percent, at 12,380.88. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 15.80 points, or 1.19 percent, at 1,317.47. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dropped 44.24 points, or 1.58 percent, at 2,759.08.