U.S. Stocks Mostly Lower on Trade War Worries

Wall Street stocks mostly fell early Tuesday on worries about U.S. trade conflicts with several countries.

About 20 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.2 percent at 25,801.95.

The broad-based S&P 500 slipped 0.2 percent to 2,872.81, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index added less than 0.1 percent to 7,926.35.

Investors were monitoring U.S. trade relations on various fronts, with Canada's top diplomat Chrystia Freeland due back in Washington Tuesday for more talks, and after another round of negotiations between U.S. and European officials concluded Monday without a deal.

China plans to ask the World Trade Organization next week for permission to impose sanctions on the United States over anti-dumping practices taken against some Chinese products.

The conflict, the subject of a WTO dispute resolution meeting next week, marks another front in the burgeoning dispute between the world's two biggest economies.

The U.S. economic calendar was relatively light Tuesday, but picks up later in the week with reports on inflation and retail sales.

Nike advanced 1.2 percent following an upgrade from Canaccord Genuity that highlighted new product launches and technological steps involving mobile applications and loyalty programs.

Canaccord also praised a controversial Nike spot involving American footballer and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick as an attention-grabbing "stroke of genius" that has "likely done more good than harm" to the brand.