LIVE MARKETS-US stocks edge up; US confidence data weak

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U.S. STOCKS EDGE UP; US CONFIDENCE DATA WEAK

The three major U.S. stock indexes are slightly higher in early trading on Tuesday, with investors digesting weaker-than-expected consumer confidence data.

Communication services .SPLRCL, up more than 1%, is the leading S&P 500 .SPX sector gainer early in the session. Energy .SPNY is also showing strength as oil prices are slightly higher. Utilities .SPLRCU, down around 1.6%, are the biggest decliner.

With the Trump administration's tariff announcements fueling concerns about the outlook for the economy, investors are looking to economic data to get a sense of how things are holding up.

Stocks rallied on Monday after some indications of potential leniency in the Trump administration's trade policy approach.

Here is the morning market snapshot:

(Caroline Valetkevitch)

FOR TUESDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

S&P 500 INDEX VS 200-DMA: MOTH AND FLAME? - CLICK HERE

JAPAN'S VIRTUOUS CIRCLE DRIVING INFLATION HIGHER - CLICK HERE

VALUATION GAPS CLOSING: EUROPEAN BANKS RE-RATING VS US 'OVERDONE' - JPM - CLICK HERE

CTAs SHED $100 BILLION OF STOCKS - CLICK HERE

POSITIVE START ON TARIFF OPTIMISM - CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: STEADY AS SHE GOES - CLICK HERE

RELIEF RALLY STARTS TO FIZZLE - CLICK HERE