The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 19.30 points, or 0.07 percent, to 27,071.42. The S&P 500 fell 2.53 points, or 0.08 percent, to 3,036.89. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 49.13 points, or 0.59 percent, to 8,276.85.
Seven of the S&P 500 sectors closed higher, with health care up 1.16 percent, outpacing the rest. Communication services and technology slid 0.95 percent and 0.92 percent, respectively, leading the decliners.
Google-parent Alphabet reported weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings late Monday. The shares traded on a downbeat note throughout Tuesday's session, with the Class A and Class C down 2.20 percent and 2.12 percent, respectively, at the close.
Merck shares soared 3.53 percent after the U.S. pharmaceutical giant delivered solid earnings. Pfizer, another pharmaceutical titan, also posted a larger-than-anticipated profit, sending the stock up about 2.5 percent.
On the economic front, U.S. consumer confidence index stood at 125.9 in October, down from 126.3 in September, the Conference Board reported on Tuesday. The reading fell short of market forecasts.
Wall Street is also awaiting a key monetary policy announcement from the U.S. Federal Reserve, which is scheduled to be made on Wednesday afternoon. Market expectations for further rate cuts are high amid a slowing economy.
The minutes of the Fed's September monetary policy meeting showed that there was a growing concern about trade tensions among Fed officials. The central bank also highlighted the impact of trade tensions on the outlook for the U.S. economy.
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