Major US stock indices fell slightly due to expectations of a vote on the bill to review the US tax system, as well as reduce the price of Apple shares after two strong growth sessions.

In addition, as it became known, the current account deficit in the US, the indicator of trade and financial flows of the country with other countries, in the third quarter fell to $ 100.57 billion, the Commerce Ministry reported. Economists were expecting a deficit of $ 116.8 billion.

Housing construction in the US unexpectedly rose in November, while the construction of single-family houses increased to a 10-year high, but changes in data for the previous month showed that the sector continues to struggle with supply constraints. The laying of new homes increased by 3.3% to a seasonally adjusted level of 1.277 million units, the Commerce Ministry said. This was the highest level since October 2016. But the pace of sales in October was revised to 1.256 million units compared to the previously registered 1,290 million units.

Oil prices have risen moderately, supported by a simple oil pipeline in the North Sea, a reduction in supplies led by OPEC, and expectations that US crude inventories fell for the fifth week in a row. However, expectations of an increase in oil production in the United States put pressure on quotes.

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in the red (18 out of 30). Outsider were the shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS, -1.39%). The leader of growth was shares of Intel Corporation (INTC, + 1.82%).

All sectors of the S & P index recorded a decline. The largest drop was shown by the utilities sector (-1.5%).

At closing:

DJIA -0.15% 24.754.75 -37.45

Nasdaq -0.44% 6,963.85 -30.91

S & P -0.32% 2,681.47 -8.69

U.S. stock-index futures were flat on Monday as investors awaited the vote on GOP's tax reform bill in the U.S. Congress.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 22,868.00 -33.77 -0.15%

Hang Seng 29,253.66 +203.25 +0.70%

Shanghai 3,296.68 +28.76 +0.88%

S&P/ASX 6,071.80 +32.90 +0.54%

FTSE 7,551.72 +14.71 +0.20%

CAC 5,416.97 -3.61 -0.07%

DAX 13,295.02 -17.28 -0.13%

Crude $57.60 (+0.77%)

Gold $1,266.10 (+0.05%)

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

Apple (AAPL) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Nomura; target lowered to $175 from $185

Wal-Mart (WMT) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup; target raised to $117 from $106

General Motors (GM) upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital Mkts

Altria (MO) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Berenberg

On 4-hour time frame chart we can see that the price is stuck in a consolidation zone.

However, we can see that the price is forming a upside trend line which can be interesting to see.

European stocks rose for the first time in four session on Monday, with banks leading the charge north on hopes the highly anticipated tax reform in the U.S. will get passed this week and provide a boon for the financial sector.

U.S. stocks closed higher on Monday, with major indexes ending at records on growing confidence congressional Republicans will succeed in passing tax-cut legislation as early as this week. The day's gains were broad, with eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ending higher on the day. Financials, which are seen as the biggest beneficiaries of the tax legislation, were among the biggest gainers of the day, up 0.7%. Separately, energy shares rose 0.8% while material stocks were up 1.5%.

Most Asia-Pacific stocks traded higher Tuesday as changes to the U.S. tax code inched closer to completion, helping send Australia's benchmark to 10-year highs. Indexes in Japan and South Korea, meanwhile, steadied after giving up early gains.

(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Nikkei +348.55 22901.77 +1.55%

TOPIX +24.43 1817.90 +1.36%

Hang Seng +202.30 29050.41 +0.70%

CSI 300 +4.43 3985.29 +0.11%

Euro Stoxx 50 +48.89 3609.42 +1.37%

FTSE 100 +46.44 7537.01 +0.62%

DAX +208.74 13312.30 +1.59%

CAC 40 +71.28 5420.58 +1.33%

DJIA +140.46 24792.20 +0.57%

S&P 500 +14.35 2690.16 +0.54%

NASDAQ +58.18 6994.76 +0.84%

S&P/TSX +89.66 16131.64 +0.56%