US stocks have declined as an unexpected drop in China's exports reignited worries of a global economic slowdown and prompted caution among investors as the corporate earnings season kicks off.

Data showed that China's exports unexpectedly fell the most in two years in December and imports also contracted. The drop pointed to further weakening of the world's second-largest economy and faltering global demand.

Chipmakers, which get a sizeable portion of their revenue from China, took a hit, with the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index down 1.6 per cent. The technology sector's 0.9 per cent fall was the biggest drag on the S&P 500.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 86.11 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 23,909.84, the S&P 500 lost 13.65 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 2,582.61 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 65.56 points, or 0.94 per cent, to 6,905.92.