Stocks Were Mixed, Dow Fell amid Boeing, Caterpillar Earnings

U.S. stocks were mixed in the early trading on Tuesday, amid disappointing earnings results from Dow components Boeing (BA) and Caterpillar (CAT). The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately fell 88.69 points, or 0.32%, to 27,260.50. The S&P 500 edged up 0.41 point, or 0.01%, to 2,983.30 3,005.88. The Nasdaq Composite gained 8.20 points, or 0.10%, to 8,259.61.

Boeing posted core losses of $5.82 per share in the quarter, while earnings of $1.96 per share had been expected. Total net loss was $2.94 billion for the quarter, where net income of a similar magnitude had been reported in the same quarter last year.

Caterpillar missed quarterly earnings expectations and guided to the low end of its previously announced full-year profit range. The heavy equipment-maker reported weak construction sales in the Asia/Pacific region and a year-over-year decline in Energy & Transportation sales, as soft demand from North American oil and gas customers weighed on results.