Markets Right Now: Indexes end a wobbly day mostly higher

NEW YORK – The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

4 p.m.

Major indexes ended mostly higher on Wall Street after wobbling between gains and losses throughout the day.

Health care and consumer products companies did better than the rest of the market Tuesday. Johnson & Johnson rose 1.3 per cent and Coca-Cola climbed 1 per cent.

Stocks that are more sensitive to the economic cycle, like industrial companies and makers of basic materials, lagged behind.

United Technologies slumped 4.1 per cent after saying it won’t buy back stock as it splits into three companies.

The S&P 500 rose 8 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 2,682.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 108 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 24,748. The Nasdaq rose less than 1 point to 7,082.

Small-company stocks fell.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 3.05 per cent.

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11:45 a.m.

Major U.S. stock indexes are mostly lower in midday trading after a strong gain the day before.

A steep loss for United Technologies Tuesday is taking industrial and defence companies lower.

United Technologies gave up 6.2 per cent after saying it won’t buy back any stock as it splits into three companies.

Steelmakers and other materials companies are falling while technology and internet companies edge higher.

The S&P 500 index fell 4 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 2,669.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 82 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 24,558. The Nasdaq composite fell 9 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 7,072.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 3.06 per cent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening modestly lower on Wall Street following a big gain the day before.

Technology and health care stocks were among the biggest losers in early trading on Tuesday. Apple fell 1 per cent and drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb sank 4.3 per cent.

United Technologies gave up 4 per cent after announcing a plan to split itself into three companies.

The S&P 500 index fell 11 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 2,660.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 178 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 24,467. The Nasdaq composite fell 47 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 7,035.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 3.06 per cent.