Tuesday's afternoon trade: Wall Street lower

US stocks slipped on Tuesday as caution before the results of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting kept traders on the sidelines after the S&P 500 broke out of a trading range in the prior session. After the Fed's August meeting, the US central bank issued a bleak assessment of the economy and the S&P 500 tumbled more 4 percent over the next four days. Investors are hoping that improved economic data since then will mean a more upbeat outlook.
The Dow Jones industrial average edged 17.37 points, or 0.16 percent, lower to 10,736.25. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 4.08 points, or 0.36 percent, to 1,138.63. The Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 6.97 points, or 0.30 percent, to 2,348.86.