The major indices started the week with mixed moves on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting gains while the S&P 500 Index and NASDAQ Composite shedding some points. The market closed in the red zone on Tuesday, as stocks slipped amid a variety of lackluster earnings reports. However, in economic news, consumer confidence increased in July to 135.7, a gain larger than consensus forecast and at the best level since November. The market losses continued mid-week when stocks retreated on Federal Reserve commentary. Although the Federal Open Market Committee cut interest rates by 25 basis points, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said it doesn't necessarily mean the central bank plans a series of rate reductions. Stocks dipped again on Thursday on renewed China trade tensions following Trump’s tweet that he intended to raise tariffs on an additional $300 billion of Chinese imports on September 1st. On another note, Labor Department data showed new claims climbed by 8,000 to 215,000 in the week ended July 27. The Institute for Supply Management's index slipped from 51.7 to 51.2, indicating a slight decrease in manufacturing levels in July. A positive day couldn’t be won as the major indices closed the week out in the negative. Stocks lost on continued tariff tensions and the release of July’s jobs numbers. The Labor Department data showed non-farm payrolls increased by 164,000 last month, down from June's gain of 224,000 jobs. On a good note, The University of Michigan's final sentiment index hit 98.4 for July, unchanged from the preliminary reading, and up slightly from 98.2 in June.