Closing Update: Stocks End Lower After Mixed Session To Mark Two-Year Anniversary Of Bull Run's Start

-NYSE down 14.60 (-0.2%) to 8,379.44

-DJIA down 1.29 (-0.01%) to 12,213

-S&P 500 down 1.80 (-0.1%) to 1,320

-Nasdaq down 14.05 (-0.5%) to 2,752

GLOBAL SENTIMENT

Hang Seng up 0.42%

Nikkei up 0.61%

FTSE down 0.63%

UPSIDE MOVERS

(-) RIG gets favorable analyst coverage.

(+) COOL continues evening gain that followed results.

(+) AVAV continues evening gain that followed results.

(+) CRDN boosts guidance.

(+) BLT beats with Q4 results.

(-) VELT gets favorable analyst coverage.

(+) AEZS inks Japan deal.

(+) HERO beats with results.

(+) STP continues gain Tuesday that followed improved quarter.

(+) AEO results top year-ago period; CEO to retire.

(+) PLCE issues mixed results, guides below Street, sets buyback.

DOWNSIDE MOVERS

(-) FNSR warns for Q4.

(-) JDSU follows FNSR after warning.

(-) ALU follows FNSR after warning.

(-) OCLR follows FNSR after warning.

(-) CIEN follows FNSR after warning, own results Tuesday.

(-) EPB selling shares.

(-) DYN warns of possible bankruptcy.

(-) POT downgraded.

MARKET DIRECTION

Stocks closed just in the negative following a mixed session. Investors gauged continuing conflict in the Middle East and North Africa along with worrisome outlooks from the tech sector and data that showed a rise in wholesale inventories that topped expectations.

Crude oil futures closed lower after a government report showed a larger-than-expected 2.5 million-barrel increase in weekly U.S. oil inventories. April crude fell 64 cents to end at $104.38 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Still, gasoline futures finished higher as the data also revealed a 5.5 million-barrel decline in supplies of the fuel. April gasoline tacked on 8 cents, or 2.7%, to close at $3.027 a gallon.

Libyan forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi surrounded rebels in the western city of Zawiyah with tanks and snipers in the main square, witnesses said, according to news reports.

Adding to concerns about the global economy, the Portuguese government's two-year cost of borrowing hit the highest level since it joined the euro in a bond auction on Wednesday, and an official said yields were unsustainable in the long run without Europe-wide action, the AP reported.

A report showed U.S. wholesale inventories increased more-than-expected, rising 1.1% to a seasonally-adjusted $436.88 billion in January. That is the highest level since November 2008. Economists had expected a 0.9% increase.