The US stock market traded mixed on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both slipping by 0.03% and 0.04%, respectively, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.09%. The cautious tone was reflected in the lack of significant directional movement, with investors seemingly hesitant to make major bets ahead of the New Year. Despite the modest losses, the overall market sentiment remained relatively stable, with no clear signs of panic or euphoria.

Sector-wise, Materials led the gains, rising 0.6%, while Real Estate and Technology followed with modest advances of 0.2% each. On the flip side, Financials underperformed, falling 0.2%, while Energy and Consumer Discretionary also declined by 0.4% each. Among individual stocks, Tesla (TSLA) stood out with a 2.1% decline, as sellers took control of the stock. The mixed signals from the market and the lack of clear direction left traders uncertain, with many awaiting clearer signs of direction in the coming days.