By Mark DeCambre and Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

No Fed speakers on tap before Dec. 13-14 meeting

U.S. stocks on Tuesday struggled to gain traction in positive territory as investors appeared to take a breather in wake of a record close for the Dow industrials in the previous session.

Also weighing on investor sentiment was a sharp reversal for crude-oil futures that threatens to snap a four-session win streak for the commodity as doubts about a pact to curb oil output among major oil producers weighs on the industry.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 17 points, or 0.1%, to 19,198, retreating from its all-time closing on Monday of 19,216.214 as the rally following Donald Trump's surprise election win subsides somewhat.

Monday's moves also came as traders largely shook off the "'no" vote in Italy's referendum (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-to-know-now-that-italy-has-voted-no-with-renzi-set-to-step-down-2016-12-04). The move marked the 19th all-time high for the index logged in 2016.

"The Dow is up because of a handful of stocks that should do well under Trump's program, so it's basically a rotation process. Now, I think that rotation process may have peaked," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at First Standard Financial.

The S&P 500 index traded flat at 2,204, led by a retreat in energy shares, off 0.6%.

The benchmark on Monday closed 0.4% off from a record close. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index gained 9.75 points, or 0.2%, Tuesday to 4,790.25. On Monday, the Nasdaq Composite was the best performer among the three stock-index benchmarks on Monday, posting a 1% gain.

Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite Index was the best performer among the major stock indexes, up 0.2%, or 11 points, at 5,320.

"Next week, the challenge will be the Fed. An increase in interest rates has already been discounted and I think what the market might be afraid of is that we might get a statement that is ultra hawkish, indicating the Fed could be more aggressive next year," Cardillo added.

Economic data: The Fed is entering its "blackout" period on Tuesday, which means there won't be any central bank speakers ahead of the monetary-policy setting meeting on Dec. 13-14. Markets are currently pricing in a 94.9% probability of a rate increase at the meeting, according to the CME FedWatch tool (http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/interest-rates/countdown-to-fomc.html).

On the economic front, the U.S. trade deficit jumped almost 18% (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-trade-deficit-jumps-18-in-october-2016-12-06) in October as imports rose to the highest level in 14 months.

The nation's trade gap climbed to a four-month high of $42.6 billion from a revised $36.2 billion in September, the government said Tuesday. That was in line with Wall Street's forecast. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected the deficit to increase sharply in October after it sunk in the early fall to the lowest level in several years

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Oil slump: Following four straight day of gains, oil prices moved lower on Tuesday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-prices-pull-back-as-investors-cash-in-on-one-year-highs-2016-12-06). West Texas Intermediate crude oil lost 2.5% to $50.48 a barrel, while Brent fell 2.2% at $53.78.

Investors are now waiting for a meeting between members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC countries on Saturday to discuss a deal to limit oil production (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-bulls-face-a-crucial-test-as-opec-gets-ready-to-meet-with-nonmembers-2016-12-06).

Movers and shakers: Shares of TherapeuticsMD Inc.(TXMD) rose 8.6% trade after the drug developer late Monday published an upbeat update on its menopause drug (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/therapeuticsmd-shares-jump-20-on-menopause-drug-study-results-2016-12-05).

Shares of Ford Motor Co.(F) picked up 0.2% after the car giant on Monday said it plans to raise $2.8 billion in new long-term financing (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ford-to-raise-28-billion-in-long-term-debt-financing-2016-12-05).

IntraLinks Holdings Inc.(IL) rallied 15% before the open after Synchronoss Technologies Inc.(SNCR) said it would buy the company in an $821 million deal (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/synchronoss-tech-to-acquire-intralinks-in-821-million-deal-2016-12-06).

Ahead of the bell, Toll Brothers Inc.(TOL) added 2.1% after reporting a drop in fourth-quarter profit to 67 cents per share from 80 cents last year.

AutoZone Inc.(AZO) climbed 1.7% after reporting earnings ahead of forecasts (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/autozones-stock-gains-after-earnings-beat-helps-offset-sales-miss-2016-12-06).

Other markets: European markets were mainly higher, tracking gains from Asia (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/asian-markets-pick-up-speed-put-italy-vote-in-rear-view-mirror-2016-12-05).

The dollar traded in tight ranges (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/after-volatile-day-of-trading-dollar-flattens-out-2016-12-06) against most other currencies, with the ICE Dollar Index marginally higher at 100.31.

Gold prices dropped for a second day.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 06, 2016 10:15 ET (15:15 GMT)