S&P 500 index closed lower on Tuesday as investors locked in profits after rapid gains on Monday and data showed consumer confidence declined more than predicted in March. US benchmark slipped 0.3% or 3.99 points and closed at 1,412.52. Apollo Group tumbled 8.5% after Credit Suisse downgraded its outlook for the stock to neutral. Lennar jumped 4.7% as its EPS reached USD 0.08 a share, surpassing analyst expectations of USD 0.05 a share.