U.S. stocks close mixed as markets digest Fed's slowdown signal

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended mixed on Thursday, as an early rebound for the stocks petered out by the end of the day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 15.37 points, or 0.04 percent, to 42,342.24, narrowly snapped its longest losing streak since 1974. The S&P 500 sank 5.08 points, or 0.09 percent, to 5,867.08. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 19.92 points, or 0.10 percent, to 19,372.77.