Stocks Ended Mostly Lower, Oil Prices Sank

U.S. stocks closed mostly lower after a volatile session on Tuesday as oil prices sank, dragging the energy sector sharply lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 100.69 points, or 0.40%, to 25,286.49. The S&P 500 fell 4.04 points, or 0.15%, to 2,722.18. The Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.01 point, to 7,200.88.

Oil prices sank on Tuesday, with U.S. benchmark crude settling at its lowest year-to-date, stretching its record streak of losses to a 12th session.December West Texas Intermediate oil dropped $4.24, or 7.1%, to settle at $55.69 a barrel. January Brent tumbled $4.65, or 6.6%, to settle at $65.47 a barrel.

The federal government recorded a deficit of $100.5 billion in October, a big increase from a year ago that was primarily caused by quirks in the calendar.