Tech companies, banks lead US indexes lower in midday trade
U.S. stocks edged lower in light trading midday Tuesday as markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Losses among technology companies and banks outweighed gains by energy companies, airlines and other industrials stocks. Oil prices were headed higher.
KEEPING SCORE: The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,680 as of 11:55 a.m. Eastern Time. The Dow Jones industrial average slid 18 points, or 0.1 percent, to 24,735. The Nasdaq lost 29 points, or 0.4 percent, to 6,930. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks picked up 2 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,545.