Major U.S. stock-indexes little changed on Tuesday as third-quarter earnings season gathered momentum with Verizon, Travelers and United Technologies reporting their results.

U.S. housing starts rose solidly in September on soaring demand for rental apartments, a sign that the housing market continues to steadily improve even as economic growth has slowed. The Commerce Department said on Tuesday groundbreaking increased 6.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 1.21 million units.

Dow stocks mixed (14 in positive area, 16 in negative area). Top looser - International Business Machines Corporation (IBM, -5.82%). Top gainer - United Technologies Corporation (UTX, +5.63%).

S&P index sectors also mixed. Top looser - Healthcare (-1.7%). Top gainer - Industrial goods (+0,6%).

At the moment:

Dow 17110.00 -7.00 -0.04%

S&P 500 2021.25 -6.25 -0.31%

Nasdaq 100 4426.00 -28.50 -0.64%

10 Year yield 2,07% +0,04

Oil 45.97 -0.31 -0.67%

Gold 1177.80 +5.00 +0.43%