Highlights
Rising bond yields were a negative for equities along with limited risk appetite ahead of US consumer price figures due for release on Wednesday. Expectations for CPI center on gains of 0.3 percent on the month for both total and core. Investors also appear tentative ahead of next week's Federal Reserve policy meeting where the Fed is widely expected to cut rates by 25 basis points.
Among sectors, lagging Tuesday were information technology, with Oracle a noted decliner after disappointing quarterly results, plus materials, industrials and health care. Holding up best were consumer staples, consumer discretionary and communications services.