The Dow was slightly lower, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were little changed at midday as a report from the Conference Board showed a drop in consumer confidence .

Chevron ( CVX ) and Hess ( HES ) were among the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 after Chevron warned that a potential challenge from ExxonMobil ( XOM ) and China National Offshore Oil Corporation over an offshore site in Guyana could jeopardize its $53 billion purchase of Hess . ExxonMobil shares were slightly higher.

Shares of SBA Communications ( SBAC ) slumped after the wireless tower operator gave lower-than-expected guidance amid a slowdown in demand from telecom companies.

Shares of cruise lines Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings ( NCLH ), Carnival Corporation ( CCL ), and Royal Caribbean Cruises ( RCL ) jumped after Norwegian posted its first annual profit since before the COVID-19 pandemic and gave a strong current-quarter outlook on higher prices and growing travel demand.

Shares of Zoom ( ZM ) jumped after it beat estimates with its fourth-quarter earnings and current-quarter guidance. Lowe’s ( LOW ) shares also gained after the retailer reported better-than-expected earnings and expressed confidence in the strength of the home improvement market.

Shares of the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global ( COIN ) climbed as the price of Bitcoin soared above $57,000, its highest price in more than 2 years. Most other major digital coins also traded higher.

Oil and gold futures advanced. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped. The U.S. dollar was up versus the pound, but lost ground to the euro and yen.