U.S. stocks close mixed, near record highs

NEW YORK, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended mixed on Tuesday, as investors shifted their focus toward upcoming inflation data expected later in the week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 96.82 points, or 0.25 percent, to 38,972.41. The S&P 500 added 8.65 points, or 0.17 percent, to 5,078.18. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 59.05 points, or 0.37 percent, to 16,035.3.

Eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in green, with utilities and communication services leading the gainers by going up 1.89 percent and 1.03 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, energy and health led the laggards by dropping 0.43 percent and 0.27 percent, respectively.

Economic data released on Tuesday indicated a potential slowdown in the U.S. economy. Both durable goods orders and consumer confidence fell short of expectations, raising concerns about the future. A significant drop in transportation equipment orders led to a larger-than-expected decline in durable goods, potentially signaling weakness in the manufacturing sector.

Consumer confidence also dropped in February, falling below revised figures and market estimates. This decline is linked to anxieties about a possible slowdown in the labor market and the ongoing political division.

Investment bank Barclays is bullish on the U.S. stock market, raising its year-end target for the S&P 500 index to 5,300 from 4,800. This signifies a potential 4.5 percent increase from the index's closing price on Monday. The optimism stems from the perceived resilience of the U.S. economy and continued strong earnings from major technology companies, often referred to as "Big Tech."

The new target "reflects our view that inflation will continue to normalize while the economy remains relatively resilient, and that Big Tech will maintain leadership in ... earnings growth," Barclays strategists said in a research note on Tuesday. "Big Tech EPS estimates have improved considerably, raising the floor for overall S&P 500 earnings."

The market on Tuesday "really doesn't have a lot of direction," according to Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research. Different sectors "are each marching to the beat of the drummer."

Retail stocks displayed mixed reactions following earnings reports. Macy's, grappling with revenue shortfalls, announced the closure of 150 stores and saw its stock price climb over 3 percent. Conversely, Lowe's, exceeding earnings expectations, experienced a more modest gain of 1.6 percent. In the technology sector, Zoom Video and Hims &Hers Health both surpassed analyst expectations in their earnings reports, leading to significant price increases of 7.3 percent and 33.5 percent, respectively.