By Anora Mahmudova, MarketWatch
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks generally edged higher,
stabilizing from three days of heavy losses. However, investors
remained cautious, as renewed tensions in Ukraine weighed on global
markets.
With the economic calendar light on news, investors are likely
to focus on earnings as well as the situation in Eastern
Europe.
The S&P 500 (SPX) was flat at 1,844.98, while the Dow Jones
Industrial Average (DJI) slipped 24 points, or 0.2%, to
16,221.40.
The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) edged up 8 points, or 0.2%, to
4,087.17.
Follow MarketWatch's live blog of today's stock-market
action.
Alcoa Inc. (AA) will report after the closing bell, unofficially
kicking off the first-quarter earnings season. The aluminum
producer, which is considered an industrial bellwether, was kicked
out of the Dow Average last year. Read: Why Alcoa earnings still
matter
On Friday, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Wells Fargo
& Co. (WFC) release results.
More than 90 companies in the S&P 500 have warned profits
will fall short of forecasts, according to FactSet data. Analysts
fear a poor earnings season could derail this year's rally.
"Earnings results over the next month may give another
indication of which parts of the economy were most impacted by
winter storms (and we can expect that weather will likely get the
blame for any shortfalls)," wrote Colin Cieszynski, senior market
analyst at CMC Markets in a note.
Among Federal Reserve officials, Minneapolis Fed President
Narayana Kocherlakota and Philadelphia Fed President Charles
Plosser, both voting members of the Fed's policy-setting committee
this year, deliver speeches on Tuesday.
Among individual companies, shares of Gigamon Inc. (GIMO) tanked
30% after the data-traffic technology firm cut its revenue outlook
because a large expected order did not occur.
James River Coal Co. (JRCC) sank 52% after the Appalachian coal
miner late Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it
continued its search for a buyer or investor.
Yelp Inc. (YELP) shares gained 1.2% Tuesday after analysts at
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey upgraded the Internet stock to buy from
neutral. The recent slide in the stock's value has created some
opportunities for investors, the analysts said. Oppenheimer
analysts also upgraded the Internet consumer review site's
stock.
FireEye Inc. (FEYE) shares climbed 2.5% after Wedbush analyst
Sanjit Singh upgraded the stock to outperform from neutral. The
maker of security platforms that protect against cyber attacks saw
its stock slide after a follow-on offering last month and broader
selloff in technology stocks.
In global markets news, Asian markets closed mostly higher,
while European stocks continued to decline. Gold(GCM4) and oil
(CLK4) advanced, finding support in a weaker dollar.
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