04:29 PM EDT, 03/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes fell Tuesday as markets assessed the latest set of macro data.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.4% to 16,315.7, while the S&P 500 declined 0.3% to 5,203.6. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.1% to 39,282.3. Utilities saw the steepest decline among sectors. Only health care, financials, and consumer staples closed higher.

In economic news, US durable goods orders rose more than projected last month as the civilian aircraft component rebounded from January's plunge that Jefferies said reflected the impact from a Boeing ( BA ) 737 plane panel ripping off in a flight.

Consumer confidence unexpectedly ticked lower in March as expectations soured while inflation views nudged higher, the Conference Board said.

US home prices rose in January sequentially and annually amid gains in both the 10- and 20-city composites, S&P Global (SPGI) division S&P Dow Jones Indices said.

"On a seasonal adjusted basis, home prices have continued to break through previous all-time highs set last year," said Brian Luke, head of commodities, real and digital assets at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

Separately, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said home prices eased 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, following the previous month's 0.1% gain. The consensus was for a 0.3% rise in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

Manufacturing activity in the Mid-Atlantic unexpectedly slowed this month as orders fell deeper into contraction and shipments remained subdued, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said.

The US 10-year yield fell 2.3 basis points to 4.23% Tuesday, while the two-year rate was little changed at 4.59%.

In company news, United Parcel Service ( UPS ) said it is targeting 2026 revenue of about $108 billion to $114 billion and an adjusted operating margin of above 13%. The shares slipped 8.2%, the steepest decline on the S&P 500.

McCormick ( MKC ) was the best performer on the index, up nearly 11%, after the spices and seasonings producer logged better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results amid sequential volume improvement across its two main segments.

Seagate Technology ( STX ) is headed for "a period of structurally stronger gross margins," aided by a cyclical recovery and the expected rise in demand for generative artificial intelligence, Morgan Stanley said in a note. Seagate ( STX ) shares jumped 7.4%, the second-best performer on the S&P 500.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 0.6% to $81.49 per barrel.

Gold ticked 0.1% higher to $2,200.10 per troy ounce, while silver declined 1.3% to $24.57 per ounce.