Why S&P 500, Nasdaq dropped while Dow Jones gained today - US stock market mixed close explained

S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones on May 12: US stocks closed mixed as tech momentum cooled amid rising energy prices and fresh inflation data. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq dipped, while the Dow Jones edged higher. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped on US-Iran tensions, and April's CPI rose to its highest level since May 2023, signaling continued consumer pressure.