Stocks Ended Lower as Senate Delayed Healthcare Vote

U.S. stocks ended lower on Tuesday as big tech names weighed and as Senate Republcians delayed a vote on health care legislation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 98.89 points, or 0.46%, to 21,310.66. The S&P 500 was off 19.69 points, or 0.81%, to 2,419.38. The Nasdaq Composite fell 100.53 points, or 1.61%, to 6146.62.

Republican Senate leaders postponed a vote on a controversial health-care bill that would replace Obamacare until after the July 4 holiday after facing difficulties in lining up enough votes to ensure passage.

Crude-oil prices advanced Tuesday, with the commodity logging its fourth gain in a row as traders braced for a possible decline in U.S. supplies. August West Texas Intermediate crude rose by 86 cents, or 2%, to settle at $44.24 a barrel, while Brent oil for August delivery gained 82 cents, or 1.8%, to $46.65 a barrel.

The Consumer Confidence Index rose in June to 118.9, despite expectations for it to drop, The Conference Board announced Tuesday. Economists were expecting the index to drop slightly to 116 for the month of June, according to Thomson Reuters consensus estimates.