NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stock indexes struggled to a mixed close Tuesday as energy companies fell with the price of oil, overcoming gains in utilities and phone companies.
Investors sold household goods makers after a report showed consumers are growing more worried about business and job market conditions.
Stocks were lower for most of the day after the Conference Board said consumer confidence fell for the second month in a row and reached its lowest level in six months.
In the afternoon stocks fell further following comments from the energy minister of the United Arab Emirates, the second-largest Arab economy. His remarks suggested there isn't a lot of urgency in addressing a global glut in oil supplies. Despite the losses, stocks finished May with solid gains.
The price of oil has almost doubled since early February, and U.A.E. Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazroui said he is "optimistic" about the state of the energy market. Ministers from OPEC nations will meet in Vienna this week.
The Dow Jones industrial average lost 86.02 points, or 0.5 percent, to 17,787.20. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 2.11 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,096.95. The Nasdaq composite index gained 14.55 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,948.05.
Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 23 cents to $49.10 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gave up 7 cents to $49.69 a barrel in London.
Chevron fell $1.02, or 1 percent, to $101 and Exxon Mobil shed 99 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $89.02.