Wall Street stocks opened lower on Tuesday following a nearly 8 percent run over the past five sessions as investors cautiously awaited data on consumer confidence and minutes from the latest meeting of Federal Reserve policymakers.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 57.98 points, or 0.50 percent, at 11,481.27. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 7.68 points, or 0.63 percent, at 1,202.40. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 15.30 points, or 0.60 percent, at 2,546.81.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica)