NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell for a fourth straight session on Monday, led by a widening sell-off in technology stocks on worries about business spending, while a drop in oil prices hit shares of energy producers.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed below 13,000 for the first time since August 16.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI: Quote, Profile, Research) was down 61.21 points, or 0.47 percent, to close unofficially at 12,981.53. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX: Quote, Profile, Research) was down 15.16 points, or 1.04 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,438.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC: Quote, Profile, Research) was down 43.81 points, or 1.67 percent, to close unofficially at 2,584.13.