NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stocks ended the day Tuesday slightly lower, avoiding the sharp declines that occurred in Europe and China.<br />
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European markets slid after an early presidential vote was called in Greece, which investors feared could jeopardize the struggling country's bailout program.<br />
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Stocks also fell in China after regulators there tightened rules for lending.<br />
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The Dow Jones industrial average fell 51 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,801. It was down as much as 222 in early trading.<br />
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The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged down half a point to 2,059. The Nasdaq composite rose 25 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,766.<br />
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The price oil rose 77 cents to $63.82 a barrel in New York.<br />
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Government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 2.22 percent.
