U.S. equities closed lower on Tuesday as a gain in tech stocks failed to lift the broader market higher.

The declined 0.4 percent to 2,629.57, with telecommunications, industrials and utilities lagging. The index posted its first three-day losing streak since August.

The information technology sector closed 0.2 percent higher and was the only advancing sector. Facebook, Netflix and Google-parent Alphabet all closed higher.

The Dow Jones industrial average finished 109.41 points lower at 24,180.64.

The Nasdaq composite erased earlier gains, slipping 0.2 percent to 6,762.21. The index also notched a three-day losing streak.

"We saw some short covering in tech earlier in the session. That cover is fading," said Dave Lutz, head of ETF trading at JonesTrading. He also noted that commodities, specifically metals, are down broadly on Tuesday.

Tech — the best-performing sector this year — has taken a hit recently, sliding about 4 percent over the past week, as investors digest a major tax bill passed by Senate members.