US Stock Indexes Slip Wednesday

(AP) -- Stocks edged lower in morning trading on Wall Street Wednesday following four straight days of gains.

The S&P 500 fell 0.3% as of 10:25 a.m. Eastern. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 55 points, or 0.2%, to 35,235 and the Nasdaq fell 0.1%.

Markets have been rising this week as talks between Russia and Ukraine seemed to show progress and following encouraging data on consumer confidence.

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine remain uncertain, however, and Russian shelling in areas where it had said it would pull back tempered optimism about prospects for a resolution to the conflict.

On Wednesday, an adviser to Ukraine's president said that a vote sealing a prospective agreement with Russia could only be held after Russian troops pull back. Investors were also hit with potentially discouraging update on economic growth.

The Commerce Department said the U.S. economy grew at an annual pace of 6.9% from October through December. That was slower than previous estimates and fell short of economists expectations.

Technology stocks were among the biggest weights on the broader market. Many of the companies in the sector have pricey values that tend to push the broader market in either direction. Chipmaker Nvidia fell 1%.

Retailers also fell and weighed down the market. Home Depot slipped 1.6%.

Oil prices, which have been volatile since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, gained ground. U.S. benchmark crude oil rose 3.9% and Brent crude, the international standard, rose 3.8%.

Energy stocks gained ground along with rising oil prices. Phillips 66 rose 2.9%.

European markets were lower while Asian stocks rose.

Bond yields fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which influences interest rates on mortgages and other consumer loans, slipped to 2.37% from 2.40% late Tuesday.

Bond yields have been mostly rising this year as Wall Street prepares for a shift in policy from the Federal Reserve. The central bank, along with its global counterparts, is raising benchmark interest rates to help fight persistently rising inflation.

Wall Street is also closely watching the bond market for clues about the economy's path. On Tuesday, the yield for 10-year Treasury briefly dropped below the 2-year Treasury's yield, what Wall Street calls an "inversion" of the Treasury yield curve. Investors take note of this because prolonged yield inversions have accurately predicted previous U.S. recessions. The 2-year Treasury yield fell to 2.33% from 2.35% late Tuesday.

Investors have several more economic updates to review this week. On Thursday, the Commerce Department will release its personal income and spending report for February and the Labor Department on Friday will release is employment report for March.