Stocks close mixed as Boeing takes another big blow

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell Tuesday as shares of Boeing posted another sharp decline amid worries over the safety of one of its most popular airplanes. The 30-stock index closed 96 points lower, with Boeing shaving off more than 150 points. Boeing shares fell more than 6 percent, eclipsing the 5.3 percent decline from Monday's session. Boeing fell after several countries, including the U.K., China and Indonesia, grounded all flights involving the 737 MAX model. The plain has been involved in two deadly crashes in less than six months, including one on Sunday. Edward Jones also downgraded the stock to hold from buy, citing a possible "delay in orders" after the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday. The broader stock market rose, however, after the release of key inflation data. The S&P 500 closed 0.3 percent higher, led by gains in the utilities and health care sectors. The Nasdaq advanced 0.44 percent. The U.S. consumer price index rose 0.2 percent in February, matching expectations. The so-called core CPI, which strips out food and energy, fell short of estimates by gaining just 0.1 percent.