The New York Stock Exchange ended slightly lower on Tuesday on the eve of new data on US inflation. The market is taking a "wait-and-see attitude" ahead of Wednesday's release of the consumer price index (CPI) for April.
The standoff over the US debt ceiling created some anxiety among investors, but less than the media attention suggests. The two sides were scheduled to meet after the market closed for talks at the White House. Without an agreement, a US default is possible after June 1, which would cause financial chaos.