US market today: Stocks mixed as retailers post earnings, investors await Powell speech and Ukraine talks

Wall Street stocks were mixed in early trade on Tuesday as major US retailers began reporting quarterly results, while investors awaited Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s policy remarks later this week.Around 15 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.4% to 45,084.70. The broad-based S&P 500 was flat at 6,447.61, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.4% to 21,544.21, AFP reported.The market reaction followed earnings from home improvement retailer Home Depot, which missed expectations but reaffirmed its full-year guidance. Competitor Lowe’s and consumer goods major Walmart are among other retailers due to report this week.Analysts said the results will be closely watched for signs of how President Donald Trump’s tariffs this year are affecting businesses and whether costs are being passed on to consumers.“Investors are pretty much on hold until Fed Chair Powell’s speech on Friday,” said Sam Stovall of CFRA Research. “Conversations are emerging that the market could go through a pullback or correction depending on whether the Fed hints at a 50 basis point cut, 25 basis points, or no cut.”

Beyond earnings and Fed expectations, geopolitical factors were also in play. Stovall noted that any potential Ukraine peace deal, after European leaders’ talks in Washington on Monday, could weigh on defence stocks more than three years after Russia’s invasion.