NEW YORK (AFP) - US stocks closed mixed on Tuesday as markets awaited President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, expecting him to outline the economic priorities for his second term.

At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 47.84 points (0.34 per cent) at 14,019.08.

The S&P 500-stock index rose 2.42 points (0.16 per cent) to 1,519.43.

The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite slipped 5.51 (0.17 per cent) to 3,186.49.

Investors will be watching Mr Obama's nationally televised speech at 9pm (10am Singapore time) to gauge "content and tone as a guide for assessing the likelihood of avoiding sequestration slated to go into effect March 1," said Patrick O'Hare of Briefing.com.