Nervous investors collected profits and sent stocks lower Tuesday, wiping out an early advance amid conflicting signals about inflation and consumer spending.
At the close of trading, the Dow lost 10.73, or 0.1 percent, to 10,686.44. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index finished down 4.75, or 0.4 percent, at 1,229.01. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 14.21, or 0.7 percent, to 2,186.74.