04:02 PM EDT, 10/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended mixed Monday as investors awaited the latest financial results from major companies due later in the week.

* Tesla (TSLA), Boeing ( BA ) , Coca-Cola (KO), T-Mobile US ( TMUS ) , IBM ( IBM ) , GE Aerospace (GE), Philip Morris International ( PM ) , Verizon Communications ( VZ ) , AT&T ( T ) , Lockheed Martin ( LMT ) , United Parcel Service ( UPS ) and Southwest Airlines ( LUV ) are among the major companies expected to report their latest quarterly results later this week.

* The Federal Reserve should "gradually" reduce its benchmark lending rate to help manage risks to inflation and the labor market assuming the economy evolves as projected, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said.

Although the economy is strong and stable, the macro outlook continues to face "meaningful" uncertainties, Logan said. Downside risks to the labor market have grown, while inflation poses "diminished but still real upside" risks, she added.

* November West Texas Intermediate crude oil was last seen up $1.34 to settle at $70.56 per barrel, while December Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $1.23 to $74.29 after China lowered interest rates as the no.1 oil importer looks to stimulate its flagging economy.

* Boeing ( BA ) was up 3.4%. The plane maker has reached a new tentative labor deal with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union to end a strike, Boeing ( BA ) and the union said Saturday.

* Microchip Technology ( MCHP ) shares were down 2.8% as Susquehanna adjusted its price target on the stock to $95 from $105.