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KB Home ( KBH ) falls after downbeat annual revenue forecast

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Consumer confidence stands at 92.9 in March

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CrowdStrike ( CRWD ) gains after brokerage rating

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Indexes: Dow falls 0.02%, S&P 500 up 0.11%, Nasdaq up

0.15%

(Updates for market open)

By Pranav Kashyap and Johann M Cherian

March 25 (Reuters) -

Wall Street's primary indexes wavered on Tuesday, as signs

of a further deterioration in consumer mood tempered investor

optimism that the Trump administration could take a lenient

approach on trade policies next week.

A Conference Board report showed that an index tracking

consumer confidence dropped to 92.9 in March, at a time when

worries persist that a global trade war could fan inflation and

slow the economy. Economists were expecting the index to stand

at 94.

In a brief respite for markets, U.S. President Donald

Trump on Monday,

suggested that

not all proposed levies would be enforced by April 2, with

some countries potentially receiving exemptions.

The benchmark S&P 500 and the tech-centric Nasdaq

reached their highest marks in over two weeks, buoyed by

a robust rally in megacap stocks such as Nvidia ( NVDA ) and

Tesla.

However, the looming uncertainty surrounding Trump's

fluctuating tariff strategy has weighed on market sentiment,

with the benchmark S&P 500 on track for annual declines.

Reports also emerged regarding a potential two-step tariff

plan under consideration for next week.

"It is positive (Trump's latest tariff stance) .. but one

thing for sure is that volatility will continue. We wouldn't

make any major sectoral allocations based on the tariff

narrative that is coming from the U.S. until at least April 2,"

said Lale Akoner, lead global market analyst at eToro.

Adding to the unease, ratings agency Moody's highlighted

that U.S. fiscal strength is on track for a persistent multiyear

decline.

Tesla shares fell 1.7% after a substantial 12% rally

from the previous day.

Despite a general rise in electric vehicle registrations

across Europe, data for February revealed a year-on-year

contraction in

Tesla's market share

, marking the second consecutive month of declining sales.

An index tracking housing stocks lost 1%, bogged down

by KB Home's ( KBH ) 7% drop as the homebuilder cut its

full-year 2025 revenue forecast.

At 10:11 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average

fell 7.57 points, or 0.02%, to 42,575.75, the S&P 500

gained 6.47 points, or 0.11%, to 5,774.04 and the Nasdaq

Composite rose 26.42 points, or 0.15%, to 18,215.02.

Six of the S&P 500 sectors dropped, with utilities

leading declines by a 1.6% fall. On the other hand,

energy stocks rose 1% to a more than three-month high.

Fed Governor Adriana Kugler

said

that the central bank's interest rate policy remains

restrictive, but progress on bringing inflation back to the

central bank's 2% target has slowed.

New York Fed President John Williams said firms and

households are "experiencing

heightened uncertainty

" about what lies ahead for the economy.

Later in the week, focus will squarely be on the

personal consumption expenditures price index, which is the

Fed's preferred inflation gauge.

Among others, McCormick & Company ( MKC ) dropped 1%

after the food processing company missed estimates on quarterly

profit.

CrowdStrike ( CRWD ) gained 4.5% after brokerage BTIG

raised its rating on the cybersecurity company to "buy" from

"neutral".

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.21-to-1

ratio on the NYSE and declining issues outnumbered advances by a

1.3-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

The S&P 500 posted eight new 52-week highs and no new

lows, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 26 new highs and 74

new lows.