04:05 PM EDT, 09/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended mixed Tuesday as markets analyzed the latest economic data and awaited the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision.

* There's currently a 65% probability that the central bank's monetary policy committee will reduce its benchmark lending rate by 50 basis points Wednesday, with the remaining odds in the favor of a 25-basis-point reduction, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

* "The committee is likely to maintain a base case of (25-basis-point) cuts beginning this week, with a consideration but not a commitment to action at every subsequent meeting," Stifel said Tuesday in a note to clients.

* US retail sales in August rose against Wall Street's expectations for a drop, while the pace of growth slowed amid declines in gas station and motor vehicle sales, according Census Bureau data.

"Based on the health of consumer spending alone, the Fed would have little reason for an aggressive start to the easing cycle, and we continue to lean toward a smaller move," BMO Capital Markets said in a note to clients.

* October West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed up $1.10 to settle at $71.19 per barrel, while November Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.90 at $73.65 as supply remains tight even as demand from China continues to weaken.

* Moderna ( MRNA ) was up 4% after the drugmaker said it received Health Canada's approval for its updated Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine targeting the KP.2 sub-lineage of SARS-CoV-2 in individuals aged six months and above.

* Accenture ( ACN ) shares were down 4.7% after Bloomberg News reported the company is delaying most staff promotions through June.