Equities recovered to end mostly better Tuesday with big technology shares leading. The Dow Jones industrial average eased 0.3 percent, the S&P 500 firmed 0.4 percent and the Nasdaq gained 1.0 percent. US Treasury yields and the dollar declined while oil prices rose.

Stocks started off weaker in a risk-off move amid rising geopolitical tensions after Ukraine's long-range missile strike at Russia and Russia's announcement it would expand its nuclear doctrine to use nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks. But the market impact proved limited after the US downplayed the Russian step. Investors focused instead on upbeat results from Walmart, suggesting better consumer spending ahead. Separately, Nvidia led technology shares higher.

Best sectors included information technology, communications services, entertainment, aerospace & defense, and airlines. Lagging were banks, parcels & logistics, road & rail, machinery, auto parts, restaurant chains, and chemicals.

Market Reflections track market reaction to the trading day's major events. Economic data, policymaker speeches, and company news are featured in this report as well as key indexes and financial instruments.

Understanding why markets respond as they do is fundamental for an investor. Market Reflections help explain how the day's events, news, and data impact the outlook for the economy and for market prices.