Markets End the Day Nearly Flat

Stocks are closing almost flat on Wall Street Tuesday, after an up-and-down day that saw health care, technology, and consumer-focused companies lead the way, the AP reports. An early rally in US crude oil prices evaporated, sending several oil and gas companies lower. Valeant Pharmaceuticals soared after reaffirming its financial outlook and announcing restructuring measures. A Labor Department report on productivity fell unexpectedly in the second quarter and weighed on investor sentiment. Strong earnings reports helped chemicals companies, while retailers lagged the market. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 4 points to 18,533. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose less than one point to 2,182. The Nasdaq composite rose 12 points, or 0.2%, to 5,225. (More Dow Jones stories.)