Stocks Edged Lower, Oil Prices Headed Modestly Higher

U.S. stocks edged lower in the early trading on Tuesday during a holiday-shortened session, taking a pause from a December rally in the three major indices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately fell 30.54 points, 0.11%, to 28,520.99. The S&P 500 was a point down 2.99 points, or 0.09%, to 3,221.02. The Nasdaq Composite declined 9.40 points, 0.11%, to 8,936.25.

Oil futures on Tuesday headed modestly higher as worries about the global economy receded momentarily on the eve of Christmas. West Texas Intermediate crude for February delivery gained 22 cents, or 0.4%, to trade at $60.75 a barrel. February Brent crude picked up 25 cents, or 0.4%, to $66.71 a barrel.