The S&P 500 closed near the flat line on Tuesday as investors analyzed the latest bond yield moves and corporate earnings season gained steam.
The broad index slipped 0.01% to end at 4,373.20, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.25% to 13,533.75. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 13.11 points, or 0.04%, to close at 33,997.65.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield topped 4.8%, reaching its highest level since Oct. 6 — when it traded at 4.887%. The move followed retail sales data that came in hotter than economists surveyed by Dow Jones had anticipated.
Rising yields have pressured the broader market in recent weeks as traders assess the prospects of tighter Federal Reserve policy for longer than expected. Investors have also considered the potential impact from the Israel-Hamas war on the global economy.
"It's more the bond market driving the stock market at this point," said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer of the Independent Advisor Alliance. "You're seeing the trend that we've seen for the last two months reassert itself."
To be sure, a solid start to the third-quarter earnings season is helping ease concerns somewhat.
Bank of America advanced more than 2% on the back of a better-than-expected report. Bank of New York Mellon climbed nearly 4% after also beating analyst forecasts in the quarter.
Beyond earnings, chip stocks including Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices struggled in the session after the U.S. Department of Commerce announced plans to tighten restrictions on sales of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China.