U.S. stocks closed mixed Tuesday, with gains in blue-chip energy shares Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) helping to drive the Dow industrials higher while the Nasdaq slid on a disappointing fourth-quarter forecast from Baidu (BIDU) and overall weakness among tech issues.

A mixed bag of economic news left investors to grapple with weaker-than-expected consumer confidence data but signs of hope in the housing market. Traders looked ahead to Wednesday's reports on durable goods orders and new home sales.

On Tuesday, the 30-stock Dow Jones industrial average finished higher by 14.21 points, or 0.14%, at 9,882.17. The broad Standard & Poor's 500-stock index was down 3.54 points, or 0.33%, at 1,063.41. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index fell 25.76 points, or 1.20%, to 2,116.09.

On the New York Stock Exchange, 20 stocks were lower in price for every 11 that advanced. Breadth on the Nasdaq was 18-9 negative.

Treasuries spiked after a successful $...

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