U.S. stock indexes were slightly lower in early trading Tuesday. Investors appeared ready to take profits from Monday’s surge that took the Dow industrials to a 13-month high. Monday’s rally was triggered by the G-20’s decision to maintain stimulus plans until world economies recover.

On Tuesday at around 9:36 a.m. ET, the 30-stock Dow Jones industrial average was lower by 3.40 points, or 0.03%, at 10,223.54. The broad Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index was down 0.64 points, or 0.06%, at 1,092.44. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index lost 0.60 points, or 0.03%, to 2,153.46.

Treasuries were higher before Tuesday’s $30 billion 10-year note refunding auction.

The dollar index was steady but recent weakness has sparked some carry trade activity involving the greenback.

Gold futures were flat, holding near $1,100 per ounce.

Oil futures were lower.

European stock indexes slipped into the red Tuesday afternoon. Benchmark indexes were lower by 0.12% in London, 0.25% in Paris, and 0.11% in Frankfurt.

Asian equities ended higher. Tokyo stocks rose 0.63%, Hong Kong advanced 0.27%, and Shanghai gained 0.10%.

There were no significant U.S. economic reports scheduled for release Tuesday.

Earnings results were mixed after the close of trading Monday, with video game-maker Electronic Arts (ERTS) announcing a wider than expected quarterly loss and a cut of 17% of its workforce.

Priceline.com (PCLN) profits surged on increased travel summer travel reservations.

Beazer Homes (BZH) surged over 9% in premarket trading Tuesday after reporting a profit for its fiscal fourth quarter.

In Europe, HSBC (HBC) reported a third-quarter profit and lower consumer loan losses, while Barclays’ (BCS) profits declined 54%. Embattled bank Lloyd’s (LYG) plans to cut 5,000 workers.

The European Commission opened an antitrust investigation into news and financial-data company Thomson Reuters (TRI) on suspicion that the company abuses its dominant market position. The commission — the European Union’s executive arm — is concerned that Thomson Reuters is locking in customers using its real-time market data feed services by preventing customers and competitors from translating Thomson Reuters specific codes to be used elsewhere.

Sen. Christopher Dodd will propose creating a single U.S. regulator that would strip the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. of bank- supervision authority, according to sources. Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, would eliminate the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of Thrift Supervision and fold the Treasury Department units into the new bank regulator. The Connecticut Democrat is scheduled to release a draft of his financial-regulation overhaul plan Tuesday in Washington.

Federal Reserve Gov. Daniel Tarullo said proposals to separate trading from deposit taking and lending at the biggest banks probably wouldn’t dispel the perception that some firms are too big to fail. “Some very large institutions have in the past encountered serious difficulties through risky lending alone,” the central bank governor said in remarks Monday to the Money Marketeers of New York University. Tarullo cited “massive failures” in risk management inside financial firms, and “serious deficiencies” in government regulation as causes of the crisis.

Fitch Ratings said the U.K. government is potentially most at risk of losing its triple-A rating, but its stable outlook reflects an expectation that it will announce moves to cut its debt more aggressively after an election that must be held by June of next year. The co-head of Fitch’s sovereign ratings said that among large developed economies with a top credit rating, the U.K. was “potentially most at risk” of a downgrade “given that if faced the largest budget adjustment.” However, David Riley later said the stable rating outlook Fitch assigns to the U.K. “reflected our expectation that the U.K. government will articulate a stronger fiscal consolidation program next year.” Despite the warning, U.K. Trade Minister Mervyn Davies insisted that the government’s credit rating is “absolutely” safe.

In economic news Tuesday, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs U.S. chain store sales index fell 0.1% in the week ended Nov. 7 after rising 0.1% the previous week. It was the first pullback in 7 weeks. As for sales on a year-over-year basis, sales rose by 2.9% after rising 1.9% the week before as easier sales comparisons aided in the increase.

The German Nov. ZEW investor confidence index fell to 51.1 from 56.0, but current conditions improved to -65.6 from -72.2.

The U.K. visible trade deficit widened to £7.19 billion in September from £6.07 billion in August, which was revised from £6.24 billion. Exports increased by 3.9%, but imports rose by 7.5%.

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