Tech Stocks Drag Down Market Despite Strong Retail Sales

Stocks closed mostly flat on Tuesday after retail sales data exceeded expectations, while earnings season showed signs of improvement. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 remained near the flatline, while the Nasdaq 100 dipped slightly. The 10-year Treasury yield surged to its highest level since July, reflecting concerns about higher interest rates. Retail sales rose more than double Wall Street's estimates, indicating the resilience of the American consumer. Earnings reports from Tesla and Netflix will provide further insight into the impact of borrowing costs. Oil prices stabilized amid diplomatic efforts and hopes of eased sanctions on Venezuela.