US benchmark equity indexes closed mixed Wednesday as markets reacted to a report showing a decline in new single-family houses in January.

The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.02% to 19,030.5, while the S&P 500 fell 0.1% to 5,950.3. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4% to 43,433.7. Among sectors, consumer staples was the steepest decliner, while technology led the gainers.

US Treasury yields slid, with the 10-year rate sinking about 0.05 basis points to 4.25% and the two-year rate saw little change at 4.08%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 0.2% to $68.79 a barrel Wednesday.

In economic news, US new home sales fell to a 657,000 annual rate in January from an upwardly revised 734,000 rate in December, below the 664,000 January 2024 estimate, according to a joint report by the US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Mortgage applications declined by 1.2% in the week ended Friday as high prices for housing offset a drop in mortgage rates, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data.

In company news, Advance Auto Parts (AAP) fell 18% after the company's Q4 loss widened year-over-year with a decline in revenue.

ZoomInfo Technologies (ZI) gained over 23% after the company issued a full-year earnings outlook ahead of market estimates.

AppLovin (APP) dropped 12% after short sellers Fuzzy Panda Research and Culper Research released two separate allegations about the company.

Gold increased 0.4% to $2,930.2 per troy ounce, while silver was up 1% to $32.15 per troy ounce.