Dow ends at record for third session despite tech-sector pressure

US stocks were mixed at the close on Tuesday as investors digested retail sales data and renewed concerns over the potential negative impact of artificial intelligence on business models across multiple sectors, even as the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched a record close for a third straight session.

Th Dow edged up 0.10%, or 52 points, to 50,188. However, the broader S&P 500 fell 0.33%, or 23 points, to 6,941, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.59%, or 136 points, to 23,102.

In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 index was steady at 620 points amid mixed performance across major sectors.

Britain’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.31% to 10,353 points, and Germany’s DAX fell 0.11% to 24,987 points, while France’s CAC 40 was unchanged at 8,327 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 2.30% to close above the 57,000 mark for the first time ever at 57,650 points, while the broader TOPIX index climbed 1.90% to a record 3,855 points.

In oil markets, Brent crude futures for April delivery fell 0.35%, or 24 cents, to $68.80 a barrel.

US Nymex crude futures for March delivery declined 0.62%, or 40 cents, to $63.96 a barrel.

As for gold, futures for April delivery dropped 0.95%, or $48.40, to $5,031 per ounce.

US retail sales were flat in December, contrary to expectations for an increase, signaling weaker consumer spending. Meanwhile, concerns escalated over the potential negative impact of artificial intelligence on business models across several sectors, including software, financial, and professional services.