* Financial companies were among the main laggards on the S&P 500 index.

* The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> edged down 0.47 points, or 0.01 percent, at 8,775.92. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> slipped 2.14 points, or 0.24 percent, at 901.11. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 2.28 points, or 0.14 percent, at 1,574.75.

(Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman; Editing by Dan Grebler)