简体中文
Wall Street ended narrowly mixed Tuesday, as better-than-expected U.S. service sector data partially offset uncertainty about when the U.S. Federal Reserve will start tapering its bond purchases program.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 20.90 points, or 0.13 percent, to 15,618.22 points. The S&P 500 slid 4.96 points, or 0. 28 percent, to 1,762.97 points. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 3. 27 points, or 0.08 percent, to 3,939.86 points.
Major stock indices erased early losses after a lower opening, following the release of the non-manufacturing data.
U.S. economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in October for the 46th consecutive month, said the Institute for Supply Management on Tuesday. The non-manufacturing index registered 55.4 in October, higher than September's reading of 54. 4.
Moreover, investors appeared wary of placing any big bets ahead of two major economic data due out later this week. The Commerce Department will release the third-quarter gross domestic product figure on Thursday, followed by October's nonfarm payrolls report by the Labor Department on Friday.
Investors will watch the data closely to seek for clues to the Fed's future plan on its quantitative easing program.
Last week, the U.S. central bank decided to keep easy monetary policy unchanged to bolster economic growth and job creation. Fed officials agreed to wait for more evidence that economic progress will be sustained before making any adjustment.
Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren lauded the Fed's open-ended quantitative easing program in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, saying the program basically allows the Fed "to do what it takes to get the economy to improve." He also said that he would like to see more improvement in the labor market and economic growth before considering any asset purchases cut.
Investors are also keeping an eye on social media company Twitter, which is expected to price its initial public offering ( IPO) on Wednesday and begin trading on Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. Twitter's debut is widely anticipated by investors since Facebook's IPO in 2012.
Electric car maker Tesla Motors and mass media company 21st Century Fox reported quarterly earnings after Tuesday's closing bell.
Tesla's third-quarter earnings beat Wall Street expectations, but its shares slumped 10.11 percent in after-hours trading because deliveries of its Model S vehicles were below analysts forecast.
Meanwhile, 21st Century Fox shares fell 2.02 percent in after- hours trading, as the company's first fiscal quarter results missed market estimates.
On other markets, the U.S. dollar advanced against most major currencies supported by the upbeat U.S. service industry data.
In late New York trading, the euro fell to 1.3474 dollars from 1.3516 dollars of the previous session. The dollar bought 98.59 Japanese yen, higher than 98.55 yen of the previous session.
Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell, settling at their lowest level in nearly three weeks on a stronger dollar.
The most active gold contract for December delivery fell 6.6 dollars, or 0.50 percent, to settle at 1,308.1 dollars per ounce.
Oil prices dropped on speculation that U.S. crude inventories would have increased for a seventh week.
Light, sweet crude for December delivery moved down 1.25 dollars to settle at 93.37 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for December delivery lost 90 cents to close at 105.33 dollars a barrel.
