At the close in the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow Jones fell 0.12%, the S&P 500 index fell 0.16%, the NASDAQ Composite index fell 0.45%.

The attention of traders remains around the banking sector. On Monday, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced that the deposits and loans of the bankrupt Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) are being transferred to the US First-Citizens Bank. Against this backdrop, First-Citizens shares rose 53.7% on Monday, rising 5.4% on Tuesday.

Investors are also paying attention to macro statistics from the US. Thus, the consumer confidence index in the US rose to 104.2 points in March from a revised figure of 103.4 points in February, the Conference Board analytical firm reported. The indicator was predicted to decrease to 101 points from the initial value of the previous month of 102.9 points.

The leading gainer among the components of the Dow Jones index today was Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA), which gained 0.88 points or 2.67% to close at 33.82. Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) rose 4.39 points or 2.19% to close at 204.96. Dow Inc (NYSE:DOW) rose 0.91 points or 1.75% to close at 52.91.

The least gainers were American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), which shed 3.91 points or 2.40% to end the session at 159.21. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) was up 9.32 points or 1.93% to close at 472.58, while Merck & Company Inc (NYSE:MRK) was down 1.40 points ( 1.31%) and finished trading at 105.53.

Leading gainers among the S&P 500 index components in today's trading were PVH Corp (NYSE:PVH), which rose 19.97% to 88.32, McCormick & Company Incorporated (NYSE:MKC), which gained 9.61 % to close at 81.18, and Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL), which rose 6.14% to close at 9.33.

The least gainers were Signature Bank (OTC:SBNY), which shed 99.81% to close at 0.13. Shares of SVB Financial Group (OTC:SIVBQ) shed 99.62% to end the session at 0.40. Humana Inc (NYSE:HUM) was down 4.65% to 483.41.

The leading performers in the NASDAQ Composite Index today were Biomea Fusion Inc (NASDAQ:BMEA), which rose 99.03% to 30.71, Viking Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:VKTX), which gained 69.30 % to close at 15.44, and Greenbrook TMS Inc (NASDAQ:GBNH), which rose 50.17% to close at 1.13.

The least gainers were Signature Bank (OTC:SBNY), which shed 99.81% to close at 0.13. Shares of SVB Financial Group (OTC:SIVBQ) shed 99.62% to end the session at 0.40. Monopar Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:MNPR) was down 51.34% at 1.45.

On the New York Stock Exchange, the number of securities that rose in price (1,794) exceeded the number of those that closed in the red (1,184), while quotes of 109 shares remained virtually unchanged. On the NASDAQ stock exchange, 2029 companies fell in price, 1555 rose, and 185 remained at the level of the previous close.

The CBOE Volatility Index, which is based on S&P 500 options trading, fell 3.06% to 19.97.

Gold futures for June delivery added 0.98% or 19.30 to hit $1.00 a troy ounce. In other commodities, WTI crude for May delivery rose 0.81%, or 0.59, to $73.40 a barrel. Brent futures for June delivery rose 0.64%, or 0.50, to $78.26 a barrel.

Meanwhile, in the forex market, the EUR/USD pair remained unchanged 0.45% to 1.08, while USD/JPY fell 0.54% to hit 130.85.

Futures on the USD index fell 0.43% to 102.08.