LIVE MARKETS-Seesaw day ends just slightly off-kilter

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SEESAW DAY ENDS JUST SLIGHTLY OFF-KILTER

The S&P 500 index .SPX swung from losses to gains to losses before then ending just slightly negative on Thursday, as investors digested the Federal Reserve's outlook on interest rates amid persistent tariff worries.

Indeed, after ending Wednesday at 5,675.28, the SPX gapped to the downside at Thursday's open before hitting an intraday low at 5,632.33, which had it down 0.76% on the day.

The index then rallied to a mid-morning high of 5711.15, which put it up 0.63% on the session. It then eroded back to a late-afternoon low around 5,643.84. But with some recovery into the close, the index settled at 5,662.88, for a loss of just 0.22% on the day.

Traders continue to eye the 200-day moving average, which provides a hurdle just shy of 5,750.

In any event, a majority of S&P 500 sectors ended red with materials .SPLRCM taking the biggest hit. Energy .SPNY led gainers. That said, changes were relatively modest as, materials, which lost just 0.62%, scored the biggest absolute change among the sectors on the day.

Under the surface, regional banks .KRX were on the weak side, while big banks .SPXBK eked out a gain.

Here is a snapshot of where markets stood just shortly after 4 p.m. ET:

(Terence Gabriel)

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