LIVE MARKETS-US stocks end lower, but see moments of sunshine

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U.S. STOCKS END LOWER, BUT SEE MOMENTS OF SUNSHINE

U.S. stocks ended broadly in the red on Tuesday but there was some light at the end of the tunnel as Ukraine agreed to a cease fire in its war against Russia, while the trade war between Canada and the United States showed signs of de-escalation.

All in all, stocks, though weak, appeared to stabilize somewhat following a sharp slide on Monday. Investor anxiety over tariffs and government job layoffs, nonetheless remains high.

Ukraine agreed to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire and U.S. President Donald Trump said he thinks he will talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin about it this week.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, meanwhile, said he will suspend tariffs planned on electricity exports to Michigan, New York and Minnesota before meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick this week to discuss the issue.

Trump responded that he may not implement tariff increases on Canadian steel and aluminum products that were announced earlier in the day in response to Ontario’s pause.

The news helped to lift stocks off their lows, but wasn't enough to turn them green.

The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was the best performer, ending down just 0.18% on the day, while the S&P 500 .SPX lost 0.76%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 1.14%.

All S&P 500 subsectors ended down.

Investors also remain cautious before February’s consumer price inflation report due on Wednesday morning, after January’s data showed that prices rose much more than expected during the month.

Economists polled by Reuters expect core price gains to slow to 0.3% for the month, from 0.4% in January, for an annual rise of 3.2%, down from 3.3% the prior month.

Data on Tuesday showed that U.S. job openings increased in January, but the report was largely seen as dated and demand for labor is expected to soften in the months ahead.

Here is Tuesday’s closing market snapshot:

(Karen Brettell)

FOR TUESDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

BOFA CLIENTS NET BUYERS FOR A 6TH STRAIGHT WEEK, BUT INFLOWS WANE - CLICK HERE

DON'T BANK ON "DRILL, BABY, DRILL" - CLICK HERE

THE SPEED OF THE EQUITY DROP SAYS CORRECTION, NOT BEAR MARKET - CLICK HERE

BEFORE AND AFTER: JOLTS VS NFIB - CLICK HERE

ARE EUROPE'S 'DEFENSE SEVEN' THE NEW 'MAGNIFICENT SEVEN'? - CLICK HERE

U.S. STOCKS MIXED, BUT TRYING TO HOLD THE LINE - CLICK HERE

NASDAQ COMPOSITE AND THE SEARCH FOR A TRADABLE LOW - CLICK HERE

"THE WORLD HAS TOO MUCH AMERICA IN ITS PORTFOLIO" - KAIROS - CLICK HERE

RECESSION? WHAT RECESSION? - CLICK HERE

EUROPE MOSTLY HIGHER, DEFENCE LEADS, TRAVEL LAGS - CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: STOCKS SEEN OPENING SLIGHTLY HIGHER - CLICK HERE

TARIFFS TOPPLE STOCKS, NO SIGN OF 'TRUMP PUT' - CLICK HERE