On a day of mixed results in the stock market, three companies associated with Warren Buffett caught investors’ attention. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which had been rising late in the day, faded as the closing bell approached. Microsoft was a notable decliner, losing ground on a bearish assessment of its Azure platform.

Meanwhile, the outlook for small businesses in the US was less than rosy as the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index dropped in March. Two companies whose fortunes are tied to the senior living industry, Adtran and Brookdale Senior Living, also suffered declines.

The market watched closely for signs of inflation data, which as it turned out was rather muted. Wall Street appeared to drift through the day without any major drama.

Ultimately, it was a day without any clear winners or losers. Investors were left to ponder the varied fortunes of the market, with some companies showing promise while others faltered.