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U.S. INDEXES EDGE DOWN AS LATEST BATCH OF EARNINGS MIXED

Major U.S. stock indexes are edging lower in early trading on Tuesday, with investors digesting the latest batch of earnings news including a disappointing forecast from United Parcel Service UPS.N and an upbeat one from General Motors GM.N.

Investors also are bracing for earnings from top tech-related companies and for Wednesday's monetary policy statement from the Federal Reserve.

The Federal Open Markets Committee is expected to announce Wednesday at the end of its two-day meeting that it is leaving interest rates unchanged.

Microsoft MSFT.O is due to report quarterly results after the closing bell.

Real Estate .SPLRCR is the weakest S&P 500 .SPX sector, while financials .SPSY are posting the biggest rise.

Here is the early market snapshot:

(Caroline Valetkevitch)

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FOR TUESDAY'S OTHER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

NASDAQ COMPOSITE: TRUST THE THRUST? - CLICK HERE

US MARKET CONCENTRATION NEAR DOTCOM LEVELS - CLICK HERE

IS THIS THE TURNING POINT FOR CHINA POSITIONING? - CLICK HERE

STOXX AT FRESH 2-YEAR HIGH ON STRONG EARNINGS - CLICK HERE

FUTURES POINT TO FRESH TWO-YEAR HIGHS FOR STOXX - CLICK HERE

CHINA WORRIES MARKETS - CLICK HERE