US benchmark equity indexes ended mixed Tuesday as traders parsed the latest producer price report and awaited official data on consumer inflation.

* US producer price growth last month unexpectedly decelerated on a sequential basis as wholesale costs of services held steady while goods' price gains cooled, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

* "A relatively more benign producer price report compared to expectations offers welcome relief for a (Federal Reserve) increasingly concerned about an acceleration in cost pressures," Stifel said in a note.

* Small business optimism reached the highest since October 2018, the National Federation of Independent Business' December survey showed.

* Optimism on Main Street continues to grow with the improved economic outlook following the (US presidential) election," said Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist at the federation. "Expectations for economic growth, lower inflation and positive business conditions have increased in anticipation of pro-business policies and legislation in the new year."

* February West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed down $1.09 to settle at $77.73 per barrel, while March Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $0.92 to $80.09 as attention turns to the impact of President-elect Donald Trump's promised tariffs on US imports.

* Constellation Energy (CEG) shares rose 3.5% as UBS and Jefferies raised their price targets on the stock.

* Eli Lilly (LLY) shares tumbled 6.6% after the drugmaker lowered Q4 and full-year revenue expectations amid slower-than-expected growth in its US incretin division.