NEW YORK, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Wall Street closed mixed Tuesday as investors were confused about the direction of the U.S. economy.

    Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke late Monday said that while a substantial economic downturn seems unlikely while inflation risks are growing.

    He also said policy makers will "strongly resist" any surge in inflation expectations, delivering his clearest message yet the central bank is done lowering interest rates. Wall Street expected that his remarks hinted rate hikes.

    Investors remain concerned on high energy prices despite crude prices retreated Tuesday after the U.S. Energy Department lowered their forecasts for oil consumption this year.

    In other economic news, the U.S. Commerce Department reported that the U.S. trade deficit had a larger-than-expected jump by 7.8percent to 60.90 billion dollars in April due to energy import.

    The Dow Jones industrial average rose 9.44, or 0.08 percent, to12,289.76. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3.32, or 0.24 percent, to 1,358.44, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 10.52, or 0.43 percent, to 2,448.94.