01:58 PM EST, 12/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes were mixed intraday as investors evaluated fresh labor market data, while the Federal Reserve's two-day monetary policy meeting got underway.

The Nasdaq Composite was up 0.3% at 23,612.8 after midday Tuesday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.1% to 6,853. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3% to 47,619.1. Among sectors, energy led the gainers, while health care saw the biggest drop.

In economic news, US job openings increased to 7.67 million as of the last day of October from 7.66 million the month before, delayed official data showed Tuesday. The consensus was for a 7.12 million level in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

"The data is unlikely to prevent the (Fed) from following through with a rate cut later this week, but it does support our assumption that officials will opt for an extended pause due to signs of labor market stabilization," Oxford Economics said in a note.

Markets are pricing in an 87% probability that the central bank's Federal Open Market Committee will reduce its benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points Wednesday, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

The FOMC has lowered interest rates by a total of 50 basis points this year amid worries over the health of the labor market.

US small business optimism ticked higher by 0.8 points sequentially to 99 in November, the National Federation of Independent Business said Tuesday. The consensus was for a 98.3 reading in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

"Although optimism increased, small business owners are still frustrated by the lack of qualified workers," NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said. "Despite this, more firms still plan to create new jobs in the near future."

US Treasury yields were higher intraday, with the 10-year rate up one basis point at 4.18% and the two-year rate increasing 2.8 basis points to 3.61%.

In company news, Boeing's ( BA ) jet deliveries fell month over month in November and trailed European rival Airbus' tally. The US planemaker's shares were down 3%, the second-worst performer on the Dow.

AutoZone's ( AZO ) fiscal first-quarter earnings dropped year over year, while the auto parts retailer's revenue fell short of market estimates. The company's shares slumped 7%, the steepest decline on the S&P 500.

Nvidia ( NVDA ) faces uncertainty around selling its H200 artificial intelligence chips in China, despite US President Donald Trump allowing exports of the technology to Beijing, Wedbush Securities said. Nvidia ( NVDA ) shares were down 0.4% intraday.

CVS Health ( CVS ) shares rose 2.8% after the company increased its full-year outlook amid ongoing efforts to strengthen its core businesses. CVS said it expects earnings in 2026 to be higher than 2025.

Casey's General Stores (CASY) and GameStop ( GME ) are scheduled to report their latest quarterly financial results after the closing bell Tuesday.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 1% at $58.29 a barrel intraday.

Gold rose 0.5% to $4,236.20 per troy ounce, while silver jumped 4.3% to $60.95 per ounce.