US stocks are closing mostly higher after a day of wavering between small gains and losses. The relatively stable trading Tuesday came a day after a plunge in China's main index set off a bout of selling in global markets. The Dow Jones industrial average gained nine points, or 0.1%, to 17,158. The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged up four points, or 0.2%, to 2,016. The Nasdaq composite fell 11 points, or 0.1%, to 4,891.
Ford fell 2% and General Motors fell 3% after the companies reported sales figures that fell short of forecasts. Gun makers rose after new data pointed to strong sales at the close of 2015. Smith & Wesson jumped 11% and Sturm Ruger gained 7%. (More Dow Jones stories.)