US stocks end mostly lower; European markets sink

NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stocks ended the day Tuesday slightly lower, avoiding the sharp declines that occurred in Europe and China.<br /> <br /> European markets slid after an early presidential vote was called in Greece, which investors feared could jeopardize the struggling country's bailout program.<br /> <br /> Stocks also fell in China after regulators there tightened rules for lending.<br /> <br /> 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 /> <br /> 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 /> <br /> The price oil rose 77 cents to $63.82 a barrel in New York.<br /> <br /> Government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 2.22 percent.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/12/282765