US stocks mixed after uneven economic signals
US stocks mixed after strong manufacturing signals, disappointing home sales
In this Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, photo, Trader Michael Urkonis, center, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Wall Street appeared headed for a day of trade without drama Monday Jan. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stocks meandered between small gains and losses, cooling off after a rally that had pushed the Standard & Poor's 500 index above 1,500 for the first time since December 2007. Encouraging news about manufacturing provided an early boost, but stocks fell later after a report on the pace of home sales fell short of expectations.
The Dow fell 14 points to 13,881. The S&P 500 fell 2 points to 1,500. The Nasdaq composite index rose 4 to 3,154.
Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar said its fourth-quarter net income exceeded analysts' expectations. It ended trading up $1.87 at $97.45.
Declining stocks marginally outpaced advancing ones on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was average at 3.3 billion shares.
