The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 106.77 points, or 0.30 percent, to 35,544.18. The S&P 500 lost 34.88 points, or 0.75 percent, to 4,634.09. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 175.64 points, or 1.14 percent, to 15,237.64.
Ten of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with technology and real estate down 1.64 percent and 1.27 percent, respectively, leading the laggards. Financials rose 0.62 percent, the lone gaining group.
U.S.-listed Chinese companies traded mostly lower with eight of the top 10 stocks by weight in the S&P U.S. Listed China 50 index ending the day on a downbeat note.
Investors are eyeing the Fed as the U.S. central bank kicked off its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, and a key announcement and a news conference by Fed Chair Jerome Powell are expected on Wednesday.
"With inflation on everyone's mind, traders will be listening to every word the Fed says," Kevin Matras, executive vice president at Zacks Investment Research, said Tuesday in a note.
"Most are expecting an increase in the taper pace," he said, adding "keen attention will also be paid to what they say regarding rates."
Latest comments