04:01 PM EDT, 07/09/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended mixed Tuesday even as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said inflation seems to have improved in recent months.

* "More good (inflation) data would strengthen" the case for potential monetary policy easing in the US, Powell said in prepared remarks to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Although Q1 inflation data didn't support "such greater confidence," the most recent readings have indicated some modest further progress, Powell added.

* Small business optimism in the US rose to its highest level this year in June, though inflation remained the most pressing problem for owners, the National Federation of Independent Business' latest survey showed.

* August West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $0.82 to $81.51 per barrel, while August Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $1.00 at $84.75.

* Corning (GLW) shares were up 3.5% after the company increased its guidance for Q2 core sales and said it expected core earnings per share at the high end of or "slightly above" its outlook range of $0.42 to $0.46.

* Albemarle (ALB) fell almost 9% as UBS, Oppenheimer and Baird cut price targets on the stock.