U.S. stocks ended mixed on Tuesday as investors struggled to shrug off concerns around the prospect of a U.S.-China trade deal and dealt with disappointing earnings.

The S&P 500 was down 2 points, or 0.1%, to finish around 3,120. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 102 points, or 0.4%, to finish around 27,934, based on preliminary numbers. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2%, or 21 points, to end at around 8,571. The S&P 500 snapped its five day winning streak, its longest such stretch since July 15.

Economic data on Tuesday suggested that low bond yields have helped boost activity in rate-sensitive sectors. Housing starts climbed 3.8% in October to an annual growth rate of 1.314 million, and building permits jumped 5% in October to a 1.461 million annual rate. In corporate news, Home Depot Inc. fell 5% after after reporting weaker-than-expected same-store sales and a poor outlook.

Source : Marketwatch