LIVE MARKETS-Wall Street sinks with uncertainties overshadowing data

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WALL STREET SINKS WITH UNCERTAINTIES OVERSHADOWING DATA

Wall Street's three major indexes are lower early on Tuesday as some solid economic data appeared to be overshadowed by a long list of uncertainties includes the specter of tariffs and their inflationary impact, geopolitical tensions and the wait for the outcome of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee meeting, which starts today.

U.S. single-family homebuilding rebounded sharply in February, but rising construction costs from tariffs and labor shortages threaten the recovery.

U.S. manufacturing production increased more than expected in February, boosted by a surge in motor vehicle output, but tariffs were also casting a shadow on the nascent recovery.

While the Fed is widely expected to end its meeting with interest rates unchanged, investors will be monitoring anxiously for any changes in its statement or Chairman Powell's comments about the outlook for rates going forward.

Meanwhile, bond investors are bracing for a U.S. economic downturn, as they pare back risky exposures, while many are extending duration in their fixed-income portfolios, taking in to account a Federal Reserve that is in no rush to resume cutting interest rates.

A murky geopolitical environment did little to help soothe investor jitters. U.S. President Donald Trump is due to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Tuesday to try to convince him to accept a ceasefire in the Ukraine war and move toward a more permanent end to the three-year-old conflict.

Also Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza and killed more than 400 people, Palestinian health authorities said on Tuesday, ending weeks of relative calm after talks to secure a permanent ceasefire stalled.

After two straight days of gains for all three of the major indexes, the Dow .DJI is off a modest 0.4% on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 .SPX is off nearly 1%. The tech- and growth-heavy Nasdaq .IXIC is down more than 1.5%.

A majority of the 11 S&P 500 sectors are lower with communication services .SPLRCL, off more than 3%, taking the biggest hit. Energy .SPNY and real estate .SPLRCR are among the early gainers.

Here is your snapshot from ~10:27 a.m ET/ 1427 GMT

(Sinéad Carew)

FOR TUESDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

NASDAQ COMPOSITE'S TRADABLE LOW, CAN IT LAST? - CLICK HERE

TIGHT GERMAN VOTE: "NO LESS THAN 489" - CLICK HERE

RECORD HIGH BUYBACKS HELPING UNDERPIN EUROPE - CLICK HERE

DAX TOPS THE CHARTS, GERMAN SMALLCAPS EVEN BETTER - CLICK HERE

BEFORE THE BELL: EUROPEAN FUTURES RISE, END OF SELL SIGNAL - CLICK HERE

ALL EYES ON TRUMP-PUTIN TALK, AND THEN ON CENBANK DELUGE - CLICK HERE