US equity indexes closed higher Tuesday, with stocks posting gains across the board, while energy shares decreased as investors moved beyond the recent geopolitical action between the US and Venezuela.
* The US services sector grew in December but at its slowest pace since April amid weak business inflows and employment volumes, with the outlook weakening, S&P Global (SPGI) said. The firm's services purchasing managers' index fell to 52.5 in December from 54.1 in the previous month.
* Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin (nonvoter) said that future policy planning will be a "delicate balance" between above-target inflation and below-target hiring that requires "finely tuned judgments." Meanwhile, Fed Governor Stephen Miran (voter until Jan. 31) said he believes that 100 basis points of reduction could be appropriate this year.
* February West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $1.30 to settle at $57.02 per barrel, while March Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $1.16 at $60.60.
* Shares of Sandisk (SNDK) were up 27% with its intraday trading volume reaching 21.5 million shares compared with a daily average of 10.7 million.
* American International Group (AIG) shares fell over 7% after the company said that Chairman and CEO Peter Zaffino plans to retire as chief executive by mid-year and transition to executive chair. The company has appointed Eric Andersen as president and CEO-elect, effective Feb. 16.
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