Major U.S. equity indices finished mixed on Tuesday as investors parsed through a slate of corporate earnings and economic data. The S&P 500 managed a modest 0.04% gain to close at 6,619, while the Nasdaq edged up 0.02% to 21,896. The Dow Jones bucked the trend, declining 0.19% to finish at 46,616.
Small-cap stocks outperformed their large-cap counterparts, with the Russell 2000 advancing 0.22% to 2,539, suggesting some risk appetite remained among investors. The VIX volatility index held steady at 27.8, reflecting measured uncertainty in the market.
UnitedHealth Group emerged as the day's standout performer, surging 9.37% to $307.73 following strong quarterly results that beat analyst expectations across key metrics. The healthcare giant's robust performance helped lift the broader healthcare sector. On the flip side, Apple weighed on the technology sector, falling 2.07% to $253.50 as investors remained cautious about the company's near-term prospects in key international markets.
Gold continued its strong run, climbing to $4,616 as investors sought safe-haven assets amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns.