US stocks close mixed, S&P at 10-month highs

US stocks ended the day slightly higher on Tuesday, with the energy related sector leading gains as oil reached fresh 2016 highs, but another batch of poor employment-related data weighed on investors' sentiment.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 18 points, or 0.1%, to end at 17,938. The S&P 500 gained 3 points, or 0.13%, to 2,112, the highest close in more than 10 months. On the other hand, the Nasdaq shed 7 points, or 0.14%, to close at 4,961.

DJIA technical view

“The Dow daily chart shows that the index remains above a mild bullish 20 SMA, whilst the 100 SMA has crossed above the 200 SMA below the current level, favoring some further gains. The technical indicators in the mentioned time frame, stand in bullish territory, but lack upward strength,” said Valeria Bednarik, chief analyst at FXStreet. “In the 4 hours chart, the technical indicators have turned south after testing overbought levels, and maintain their downward slopes within positive territory, whilst the 20 SMA heads strongly higher around 17,876, the level to break to see the index turning south.”

Support levels: 17,921 17,859 17,770   Resistance levels: 18,003 18,084 18,161