Dow Jones Industrial Average Wavers After Monday’s Selloff; US Dollar Rises In Anticipation Of December US Rate Hike

This story was updated at 4:30 p.m. EST.

After U.S. stocks posted their biggest loss in six weeks, the benchmark S&P 500 eked out a small gain on Tuesday after four consecutive daily declines. U.S. stocks ended the day flat after Monday’s selloff. “Many investors will now be cautious about buying into equities,” Nour Al-Hammoury, chief strategist at ADS Securities, said in a note on Tuesday.

U.S. banks will be closed on Wednesday for Veterans Day, but U.S. markets will be open.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) closed on Monday up 27.73 points, or 0.16 percent, to 17,758. The S&P 500 index (INDEXSP:.INX) edged up 3.14 points, or 0.15 percent, to 2,082. The Nasdaq composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) dropped 12.06 points, or 0.24 percent, to 5,083.

Seven of the 10 S&P 500 sectors were up slightly. Declines were led by the materials and information technology sectors. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) led declines during on Tuesday among the 30 Dow components. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) led Dow gains.

The U.S. dollar was trading at close to its seven-month high against other major currencies on Tuesday as foreign-exchange traders continued to pile into the currency in anticipation of a U.S. interest rate hike. The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the greenback against six major currencies, rose to 99.09 after hitting its highest level since mid-April on Friday. Meanwhile the U.S. 10-year Treasury was mostly left unchanged ahead of a U.S. Treasury bond auction. The benchmark note yield has been climbing since late last month and hit nearly a three-month high on Monday.

Global Markets

Like Asia and the U.S., European shares were headed toward a mixed, near-flat close on Tuesday. The German DAX gained 17.07 points, or 0.16 percent, to 10,832. France’s CAC 40 gained a slight 0.99 points, or 0.02 percent, to 4,909. London’s FTSE index retreated by 19.88 points, or 0.32 percent, to 6,275.

Asian shares were mixed Tuesday with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropping 325.07 points, or 1.43 percent, to 22,401 as investors followed a regional selloff in the wake of the release of China inflation data. The country’s National Bureau of Statistics said consumer prices rose 1.3 percent in October compared to October of last year. Producer prices dropped 5.9 percent, indicating continued slowdown in demand from factories. The Shanghai Composite Index closed down a slight 6.4 percent to 3,640 while Tokyo’s Nikkei gained 28.52 points, or 0.15 percent, to 19,671.

Oil Prices

Oil prices turned upward after the International Energy Agency said Tuesday in London that oil would remain under $80 a barrel until 2020. West Texas Intermediate crude oil, the U.S. benchmark for oil prices, gained 0.57 percent to $44.12 per barrel for December delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, advanced 0.45 percent to $47.40 on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

Q3 Earnings Season Market Movers

Tuesday was a light day for company earnings reports. Here are some highlights.

D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI), the largest homebuilder in the U.S., reported before markets opened in New York on Tuesday better-than-expected profit and revenue for three months ending September. Revenue jumped on higher home sales, to $3.05 billion from $2.40 billion, while net profit grew to $238.9 million, 64 cents per share, from $166.3 million, or 45 cents per share. The company’s share price climbed 8.24 percent to $31.14 by Tuesday’s closing bell. The stock is up 23.09 percent for the year.

Vodafone Group Plc (LON:VOD) boosted its full-year earnings forecast on Tuesday, causing U.S.-listed shares in the world’s No. 2 mobile operator to rise 4.27 percent to $33.69. The British telecom said the European mobile phone market is improving and would help reverse the company’s losses from the first six months of the year.