04:01 PM EST, 02/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended mixed Tuesday as a steeper-than-expected drop in consumer confidence added to concerns surrounding consumer weakness.

* The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence fell to 98.3 in February from 105.3 in January, versus the 102.5 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The slump is the steepest monthly decline since August 2021, according to Stephanie Guichard, a senior economist at the Board.

"Consumers became pessimistic about future business conditions and less optimistic about future income," Guichard said in a note. "Pessimism about future employment prospects worsened and reached a ten-month high."

* President Donald Trump is on track to impose a 10% tariff on energy imports from Canada and a 25% levy on goods from Canada and Mexico after a month-long deadline expires early next month.

"Tariffs remain top of mind, sparking a rise in consumer inflation expectations and complicating international relationships," Stifel Chief Economist Lindsey Piegza said in a note.

* April West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed down $1.66 to settle at $69.04 per barrel, while April Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $1.67 to $73.11 on the prospect of an increase in supply and weaker demand due to the mercurial policy decisions from the U.S. President, as well as plunging U.S. consumer confidence.

* Thermo Fisher Scientific ( TMO ) agreed to acquire Solventum's ( SOLV ) purification and filtration business for $4.1 billion in cash. Shares of Solventum ( SOLV ) rose 9.5%

* Sempra ( SRE ) reported Q4 adjusted earnings and revenue below the average analyst estimates compiled by FactSet while lowering its full-year 2025 earnings guidance. Shares plunged nearly 19%.