Stocks Ended Mixed after Worst Day of 2019

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Thursday, as investors balanced U.S.-China trade tensions and recession fears with upbeat data on retail sales and solid earnings from Dow component Walmart Inc. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 99.97 points, or 0.39%, to 25,579.39. The S&P 500 was up 7.00 points, or 0.25%, to 2,847.60. The Nasdaq Composite was down 7.32 points, or 0.09%, to 7,766.62.

Oil futures ended lower Thursday for a second consecutive session, as U.S.-China trade tensions continue to feed worries about a global economic slowdown that could weigh on demand. West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery fell 76 cents, or 1.4%, to settle at $54.47 a barrel. October Brent crude lost $1.25, or 2.1%, to $58.23 a barrel.