The three major U.S. stock indexes opened lower on Wednesday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq leading the declines. The S&P 500 slipped 0.02%, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.26%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.26%. The declines came after a mixed day on Tuesday, when the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at record highs. The Nasdaq Composite, however, ended the day slightly lower. Investors are closely watching the trade talks between the United States and China, which are scheduled to resume next week. A positive outcome could boost the markets, while a negative outcome could lead to further losses. In other news, the Federal Reserve is expected to release the minutes from its latest meeting on Wednesday afternoon. The minutes are likely to shed light on the central bank's thinking about the economy and interest rates.