World stock exchanges ended Tuesday with a drop. The pressure was exacerbated by the Ukrainian conflict; in addition, investors avoided risks in anticipation of the publication of statistics on inflation in the United States, scheduled for Thursday, and the upcoming corporate reporting season.

The main European indices showed the fifth consecutive day of decline, falling by 0,13% - 1,06%. An additional negative factor was the information about Ukraine stopping the gas transit to Europe that is in a serious energy crisis. The U.S. indices were down 0.27% to 1.10%, Asian indices, excluding Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen Composite, were down 0.34% to 2.64%.

Investors are also expecting the Fed meeting minutes today. The reporting season may turn out to be disappointing against the background of higher inflation and consequences of anti-Russian sanctions, RIA Novosti cites the opinion of market participants.