The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell on Tuesday, as shares of Boeing continued to struggle.
The 30-stock index fell 63 points to move into noon hour EDT at 25,587.88, with Boeing shaving off more than 150 points.
The S&P 500 took on 12.08 points to 2,795.63, led by gains in the energy and materials sectors.
The NASDAQ Composite gathered 44.29 points to 7,602.36.
Boeing shares fell more than 6%, adding to steep losses from Monday's session. Boeing fell after Edward Jones downgraded the stock to hold from buy, citing a possible "delay in orders" after two 737 MAX jets crashed in less than six months. The accident led several countries, including the U.K., China and Indonesia, to ground all flights involving that airplane model.
The U.S. consumer price index rose 0.2% in February, matching expectations. The so-called core CPI, which strips out food and energy, fell short of estimates by gaining just 0.1%.
Stocks in Asia Tuesday got a slight boost after British Prime Minister Theresa May got legally binding assurances from the European Union over the most contentious part of the deal, the Irish backstop.
Investor attention will be firmly focused on the Brexit deal in the U.K. when British Members of Parliament vote Tuesday evening on whether to accept or reject May's deal ahead of the scheduled March 29 departure from the E.U.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury made slight headway, lowering yields to 2.63% from Monday's 2.64%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices took on 38 cents to $57.17 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices gained $6.10 to $1,298 U.S. an ounce.