US stocks end lower after late-day sell-off

NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks fell Tuesday as an early advance fizzled in the last hour of trading.

Energy stocks rose with the price of oil while consumer discretionary stocks were among the biggest decliners. Utility stocks also dragged down the major indices.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 5.43 points, or 0.03 percent, to 17,875.42. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 4.29 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,076.33. The Nasdaq composite lost 7.08 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,910.23.

Stocks were modestly higher most of the day but sank right before the close.

The Dow Jones utility index, an index representing 15 of the nation's largest utility companies, fell 1 percent.

Many traders spent the day focusing on the upcoming earnings season.

Earnings season officially starts Wednesday with Alcoa, which reports its results after the closing bell.