U.S. stock index close mixed on Tuesday, Dow -0.64%, S&P500 +0.72%, Nasdaq +1.61%

U.S. stock index close mixed on Tuesday, Dow -0.64%, S&P500 +0.72%, Nasdaq +1.61%.

U.S. stock indexes closed mixed on Tuesday, reflecting a cautious approach by investors as they await the latest consumer inflation report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) fell by 0.64%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.72%, and the Nasdaq Composite surged by 1.61%. The market's performance was influenced by the anticipation of the April Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which is expected to reveal the impact of President Trump's tariffs on inflation [1].

The DJIA, which includes 30 major U.S. companies, was dragged down by a sharp fall in shares of UnitedHealth Group (UNH), which suspended its 2025 guidance and announced the resignation of its CEO, Andrew Whitty, for personal reasons. UnitedHealth's shares sank around 10%, with other healthcare stocks like Humana (HUM) also sliding [1, 3].

The S&P 500, a broader benchmark that includes 500 leading companies, gained 0.72% despite the overall market's cautious sentiment. The index's performance was boosted by gains in technology stocks, with Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA) leading the way. However, the market's overall performance was tempered by concerns about the potential impact of tariffs on inflation [2, 3].

The Nasdaq Composite, which is heavily weighted towards technology and growth stocks, surged by 1.61%, driven by strong performances from tech giants like Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN). The index's gains were also supported by positive earnings reports and a softening stance on tariffs from the U.S. government [2].

Investors are closely watching the CPI report, which is scheduled to be released at 8:30 a.m. ET, for clues about the Federal Reserve's path for interest rates. The market is currently pricing in a 0.25% rate cut in September, compared with previous expectations for June [1].

The mixed performance of U.S. stock indexes on Tuesday underscores the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the impact of tariffs on inflation and the broader economy. As the market awaits the CPI report, investors are likely to remain cautious, with a focus on the potential implications for interest rates and economic growth.

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-futures-struggle-in-wait-for-cpi-to-reveal-tariff-impact-on-inflation-232256235.html
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/wall-street-stock-market-hails-us-china-trade-deal-dow-jones-sp-500-nasdaq-head-towards-biggest-single-day-jumps-in-months-nvidia-tesla-share-prices-jump-big/articleshow/121118129.cms
[3] https://www.investopedia.com/dow-jones-today-05132025-11733629