Markets Right Now: Stocks struggle to a mixed close

NEW YORK (AP) - The latest on developments in global financial markets (all times local):

4:00 p.m.

Stocks struggled to a mixed close after a slide in energy and consumer goods companies outweighed gains elsewhere in the market.

The price of crude oil turned lower in the afternoon Tuesday, taking big oil companies down with it. Exxon Mobil and Chevron each fell about 1 percent.

Among other stocks in the Dow Jones industrial average, Boeing gave up 2 percent.

Utilities were the best-performing stocks in the market. Westar Energy, the biggest utility company in Kansas, rose 6 percent after agreeing to be acquired by Great Plains Energy.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 86 points, or 0.5 percent, to 17,787. The Standard and Poor's 500 index slipped 2 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,096. The Nasdaq composite climbed 14 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,948.

___

11:45 a.m.

U.S. stock indexes are mixed in midday trading as losses in consumer goods makers outweigh gains in phone companies and utilities.

Disney and Nike were among the biggest decliners Tuesday in the Dow Jones industrial average. Aircraft maker Boeing also fell after the U.S. Air Force announced new delays for a refueling plane.

Westar Energy, the biggest utility company in Kansas, rose 8 percent after agreeing to be acquired by Great Plains Energy.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 61 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,811. The Standard and Poor's 500 index slipped 2 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,097. The Nasdaq composite climbed 10 points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,942.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.85 percent.

___

9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening slightly higher on Wall Street as the market comes off its best week since early March.

Investors were encouraged by a report early Tuesday that consumer spending increased in April at the fastest rate in six years.

Botox maker Allergan rose 2 percent after the activist investor Carl Icahn said he had accumulated a large stake in the company.

The Dow Jones industrial average edged up 11 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,888. The Standard and Poor's 500 index gained 3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,101. The Nasdaq composite climbed 12 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,945.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.89 percent.