U.S. stocks drifted lower Monday ahead of a momentous week full of potential flashpoints in Washington, D.C., and around the world. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3%, though it remains near its record set last month.

Wall Street pointed toward gains early Tuesday as investors awaited the outcome of the U.S. presidential election and other potentially market-rattling events this week. Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average each rose 0.