US stocks end mixed

US stocks have ended mixed as concerns about the path of Hurricane Gustav sent oil prices higher and offset a better-than-expected reading on consumer confidence. Comments from the Federal Reserve about rising inflation added to the market’s uneasiness.

The Fed’s release of minutes from its August 5 meeting showed that the central bank remains concerned about creeping inflation and that it expected it would need to raise interest rates to try to contain rising prices.

The Dow Jones industrials rose 26.62, or 0.23%, to 11,412.87. The blue-chip index crossed in and out of positive territory throughout the session.

Broader indexes were mixed today. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 4.66, or 0.37%, to 1,271.97; the Nasdaq composite fell 3.62, or 0.15%, to 2,361.97.