Broad gains in other areas offset insurance weakness.

Among the shares expected to see active trade in Tuesday's session are Kraft, MasterCard and Viacom.

As U.S. regulators consider reining in excessive energy speculation, the two major U.S. futures exchanges square off over whether authorities should impose a blanket cap on positions traders hold on one exchange.

Shares of U.S. financial stocks resume upward movement after a drop in the previous session.

AIG shares rise as investors continued to bank on the government rejigging its bailout of the firm yet again.