"Dow and S&P 500 Hit Records Amid Retail Sales Boost and Rate Cut Hopes"

US stocks were mixed on Tuesday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record high, driven by strong earnings from UnitedHealth, while the S&P 500 rose slightly and the Nasdaq fell. Investors are increasingly confident that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in September, bolstered by better-than-expected retail sales and cooling inflation. However, concerns remain about consumer debt and the potential impact on the economy.