Major US stock indices closed in the red on Tuesday, as growing geopolitical tensions sent investors into safer assets. The White House said on Monday that President Donald Trump was open to authorizing additional attacks on Syria if his government again uses chemical weapons, while North Korea warns of a nuclear attack on the United States if they are provoked by the approach of the US Navy strike group to Western part of the Pacific Ocean.

In addition, according to a survey of vacancies and labor turnover (JOLTS), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the USA, in February the number of vacancies increased to 5.743 million. The indicator for January was revised downward - to 5.625 million from 5.626 million. Analysts had expected, That the number of vacancies will increase only to 5.655 million. The vacancy rate rose to 3.8 percent compared to 3.7 percent in January. In addition, it became known that hiring amounted to 5.314 million against 5.424 million in January. The level of hiring was 3.6 percent in February, decreasing by 0.1 percent compared to January. With regard to layoffs, their number was 3.084 million compared with 3.186 million in January. The level of layoffs was 2.1 percent compared to 2.2 percent in January.

Most components of the DOW index showed a decrease (21 of 30). More shares fell shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL, -1.34%). The leader of growth were shares of McDonald's Corporation (MCD, + 0.80%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P index finished trading in negative territory. The conglomerate sector fell most of all (-0.9%). The maximum increase was recorded in the sector of industrial goods (+ 0.2%).

At closing:

DJIA -0.03% 20.651.96 -6.06

Nasdaq -0.24% 5,866.77 -14.16

S & P -0.14% 2,353.85 -3.31