DOW

Dow

11,697.31

-25.58

-0.22%

By: Abby Schultz, JeeYeon Park

Stocks ended mixed as the Dow's rally skidded to a halt as retailers reported weaker-than-expected December sales.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 25.58 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 11,697.31 after closing at multi-year highs the previous session following a surprising rise in private sector jobs.


The S&P 500 fell 2.71 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 1,273.85, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 7.69 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 2,709.89. The CBOE Volatility Index, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, rose above 17.

Among key S&P 500 sectors, telecom, energy and consumer discretionary slipped while technology gained.

Commodities continued to be skittish, contributing to weakness in energy and materials stocks.

Gold declined for a fourth consecutive session to close about $1,371 an ounce. Copper fell 1.8 percent to about $4.32.