Stocks mixed as traders weigh inflation, US debt ceiling uncertainty

Stocks ended mixed on Tuesday as traders weighed the potential impact of rising inflation and uncertainty over the US debt ceiling. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2%, while the S&P 500 was up 0.1%. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3%.

The market had opened lower, with investors worried about rising prices for commodities like oil and copper, which could lead to higher inflation. At the same time, there is still uncertainty over whether Congress will raise the debt ceiling in time to avoid a government default.

Traders were also digesting a report from the Labor Department that showed an increase in job openings in March. The report showed that job openings rose by 661,000 to 8.1 million, but it was still below pre-pandemic levels.

In corporate news, shares of Boeing rose 4% after the company said it would resume production of its 737 Max jetliner this month. The plane has been grounded since 2019 following two fatal crashes.

Meanwhile, shares of Apple were down 1% after the company announced its new subscription bundle service, Apple One. The service offers access to multiple Apple services at a discounted price.

Overall, investors remain cautious as they weigh the potential economic impacts of rising inflation and the debt ceiling debate in Washington. With no clear resolution in sight, traders are likely to remain on edge in the near term.