The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 32.73 points (0.39 per cent) to 8441.24 at the closing bell, the fifth day of a losing streak.
The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite closed 0.5 per cent higher, up 7.67 points to 1546.46.
The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index rose by less than 1 point, to 871.14.
Traders remained worried a day after US aluminum giant Alcoa kicked off the earnings season with a wider than expected net quarterly loss of $US1.19 billion.
"Alcoa's fourth-quarter loss, falling substantially below analysts' lowered estimates, has set the tone for a tough earnings reporting season,'' said Fred Dickson, chief market strategist at DA Davidson & Co.
"This was definitely not a surprise, but the reality of how tough operating conditions have become for most companies in the face of the growing global recession now appears to be unsettling investors.''
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