NEW YORK: US stocks were mixed in early trade Tuesday after the release of data showing continuing weakness in home prices and slumping consumer confidence.
After opening solidly higher in the trail of rising European markets -- all on hopes that a Greek debt deal is imminent -- at 1515 GMT the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 6.05 points (0.05 percent) to 12,647.67.
The S&P 500, a broader measure of the markets, gained 0.54 (0.04 percent) to 1,313.55, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 2.07 (0.07 percent) to 2,814.01.
The indices gave up early half-percent gains after data releases by S&P Indices on home prices and the Conference Board on consumer confidence.
The Case-Shiller Index showed another 0.7 percent fall in home prices in November, despite record-low interest rates on home loans that analysts hoped would help the sector rebound.
The Conference Board's consumer confidence index fell to 61.1 in January from 64.8 a month earlier, showing a turn lower in Americans' hopes for a rebound in the economy.
"Consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions turned more downbeat and is back to November 2011 levels," said Lynn Franco of the Conference Board Consumer Research Center.
"Regarding the short-term outlook, consumers are more upbeat about employment, but less optimistic about business conditions and their income prospects.
The Dow blue chips were led higher by Bank of America, up 0.8 percent, Chevron, up 0.5 percent, and DuPont, up 0.5 percent.
ExxonMobil, which slightly beat analyst forecasts in its fourth-quarter earnings, slid 1.2 percent.
Pfizer shares slipped 0.1 percent after topping analyst forecasts for fourth-quarter earnings per share.
As expected the quarter's sales and profits for the giant drug maker fell sharply in the quarter, hit hard by the loss of exclusivity on its blockbuster anti-cholesterol drug Lipitor.
The Nasdaq got a boost from a 6.2 percent share gain from toymaker Mattel, which turned in a solid fourth quarter that topped expectations.
Bond prices were mixed. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was flat at 1.84 percent while the 30-year rose to 3.0 percent from 2.98 percent on Monday.
Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.
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