U.S. stocks close mixed

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Tuesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 52.27 points, or 0.10 percent, to 50,188.14. The S and P 500 sank 23.01 points, or 0.33 percent, to 6,941.81. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 136.196 points, or 0.59 percent, to 23,102.474.

Six of the 11 primary S and P 500 sectors ended in red, with communication services and financials leading the laggards by going down 0.84 percent and 0.75 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, utilities and real estate led the gainers by rising 1.59 percent and 1.39 percent, respectively.

Russia said on Tuesday that it had taken control of a settlement in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, while Ukraine reported repelling a number of Russian attacks across multiple fronts on the same day.

Russia's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that Russian forces had struck Ukrainian targets in 139 areas over the previous 24 hours, including energy facilities and transport infrastructure, sites used for the assembly, storage and launch preparation of long-range drones, and also targeting temporary deployment points of Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries.

Russian air defense systems shot down about 100 fixed-wing drones, the ministry said, adding that Russian forces had taken control of a settlement in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that 168 combat engagements took place along the frontlines over the past day, with Ukrainian forces repelling Russian attacks in multiple directions. According to a statement, Ukraine's air force, missile units and artillery carried out strikes on five concentrated areas of Russian troops and hit one transport infrastructure facility, and also shot down close to 1,200 Russian drones.

In another notable development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a presidential decree on Tuesday amending regulations on military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, allowing people over the age of 60 to serve under contract during wartime.

Under the decree, during the period of martial law, individuals aged over 60 may be permitted to serve under one-year renewable contracts, provided they pass a medical examination by a military medical commission and obtain written consent from unit commanders.

The revised rules also stipulate that if martial law is terminated or lifted, such contracts will be ended ahead of schedule, and the personnel concerned will be discharged from service in accordance with the law.