Tesla and Alphabet Earnings Loom. Markets Hold Their Breath.

Wall Street drifted sideways on Tuesday as investors waited for earnings reports from two of the world’s most valuable companies. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq all moved in a narrow range, showing little direction ahead of results from Alphabet and Tesla due after the closing bell. Traders are watching closely. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, faces questions about its advertising revenue and its heavy investments in artificial intelligence. Tesla, the electric-vehicle maker led by Elon Musk, must show it can maintain profit margins amid price cuts and slowing demand. The cautious mood kept major indexes from making clear gains or losses. Analysts say the market is in a "wait-and-see" mode until these two tech giants report their numbers. Any surprise—good or bad—could set the tone for the rest of the week.