US close: Markets finish flat on CPI data

US equities closed flat early on Tuesday, as investors digested inflation data and a report on industrial production.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up marginally at 17489.50, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were 2.75 points lower and 1.4 points higher respectively.

CPI edges higher

On the macroeconomic front, US consumer prices rose for the first time in three months in October.

According to the Labor Department, CPI declined 0.2% month-on-month last month, up from the 0.2% decline recorded in September and in line with expectations.

On a year-on-year basis, the rate of growth rose from 0.0 to 0.2% in October, slightly above analysts’ estimates for a 0.1% gain.

“This morning’s data confirm our suspicion that some of the weakness in nominal October core retail sales was indeed price-related,” said analysts at Barclays.

“Lower prices imply slightly stronger consumption in real terms.”

Meanwhile, according to figures released by the Federal Reserve, output fell 0.2% last month compared with a 0.2% decline in September and analysts’ expectations for a 0.1% gain.

Manufacturing production rose 0.4% month-on-month rebounding from a 0.1% decline in the previous month and above analysts’ expectations for a 0.2% gain, although the report added overall production was held back by a drop in mining and utility output.

In company news, home fashion retailer TJX Companies rose 3.85% after posting better-than-expected third quarter sales, while Home Depot gained 4.42% after posting solid quarterly sales.

Retailing giant Wal-Mart also gained 3.54% after its quarterly beat expectations.

Meanwhile, regulatory filings showed David Einhorn boosted its stake in Apple and General Motors. However market reaction was mixed, with shares in the companies dropping 0.42% and gaining 0.09% respectively.

S&P 500 - Risers

Airgas Inc. (ARG) $137.35 +29.36%

Fossil Group Inc (FOSL) $34.57 +8.54%

Qorvo, Inc. (QRVO) $54.74 +5.59%

Netflix Inc. (NFLX) $117.10 +5.16%

Home Depot Inc. (HD) $126.18 +4.42%

Mattel Inc. (MAT) $24.71 +3.91%

TJX Companies Inc. (TJX) $68.18 +3.85%

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) $59.92 +3.54%

Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) $36.12 +3.35%

Moody's Corp. (MCO) $101.20 +3.17%

S&P 500 - Fallers

Keurig Green Mountain Inc (GMCR) $40.13 -9.80%

Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU) $12.68 -8.65%

Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) $5.87 -7.41%

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (COG) $21.00 -6.91%

Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN) $10.93 -6.26%

Under Armour Inc. Class A (UA) $84.99 -5.57%

NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) $12.02 -5.50%

Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX) $8.39 -5.30%

Range Resources Corp. (RRC) $33.00 -4.68%

Genworth Financial Inc. (GNW) $4.63 -4.34%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers

Home Depot Inc. (HD) $126.18 +4.42%

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) $59.92 +3.54%

Intel Corp. (INTC) $32.64 +1.68%

Boeing Co. (BA) $146.08 +1.15%

Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) $114.39 +0.50%

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $101.50 +0.28%

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $116.13 +0.18%

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $45.08 +0.09%

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) $133.82 +0.08%

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $26.81 +0.07%

Dow Jones I.A - Fallers

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $52.97 -1.48%

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $69.39 -1.42%

Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) $79.96 -1.16%

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) $32.87 -0.87%

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $190.57 -0.83%

American Express Co. (AXP) $71.11 -0.77%

3M Co. (MMM) $157.03 -0.75%

Nike Inc. (NKE) $122.58 -0.71%

Coca-Cola Co. (KO) $41.67 -0.69%

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $66.13 -0.57%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

Vimpelcom Ltd Ads (VIP) $3.61 +9.39%

Netflix Inc. (NFLX) $117.10 +5.16%

Incyte Corp. (INCY) $113.48 +5.02%

Mattel Inc. (MAT) $24.71 +3.91%

Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) $36.12 +3.35%

Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) $107.32 +2.66%

Micron Technology Inc. (MU) $15.28 +2.62%

Skyworks Solutions Inc. (SWKS) $77.15 +2.48%

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) $128.26 +2.38%

Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) $64.23 +2.29%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

Keurig Green Mountain Inc (GMCR) $40.13 -9.80%

Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) $61.56 -3.04%

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (CTSH) $64.11 -2.66%

Liberty Global plc Series C (LBTYK) $41.57 -2.51%

Liberty Global plc Series A (LBTYA) $43.15 -2.15%

Staples Inc. (SPLS) $12.45 -2.05%

Viacom Inc. Class B (VIAB) $50.98 -1.90%

Discovery Communications Inc. Class A (DISCA) $30.10 -1.60%

Verisk Analytics Inc. (VRSK) $71.58 -1.57%

Discovery Communications Inc. Class C (DISCK) $28.70 -1.56%