NEW YORK (AA) – Wall Street closed mixed Wednesday as falling crude prices were balanced with positive macroeconomic data.
Oil prices fell more than 1.5 percent with oversupply worries and concerns about OPEC's plan to limit output after Iraq said Sunday it would not trim its production.
At the final bell, American benchmark West Texas Intermediate was trading at $49.13 per barrel -- down 1.6 percent. International benchmark Brent crude was at $49.87 -- a 1.8 percent loss.
The S&P 500 lost three points to close the day at 2,139. The Nasdaq was down 33 points to 5,250.
U.S. economic data, however, was supportive enough to carry the Dow into positive territory.
New home sales rose by 3.1 percent in September to beat expectations and marking its third monthly increase in a row.
The Dow added 30 points to end the day at 18,199.