S&P 500 erases early losses to end flat; energy, tech up

Apple shares climb 1.5% to $114.12, giving the Nasdaq and S&P 500 their biggest boost

The S&P 500 ended nearly flat on Tuesday as concerns about global weakness and political turmoil were offset by gains in technology and energy shares.

The index managed to erase a 1.3% decline from earlier in the day, moving more than 26 points to its high of the day from its low.

Energy and technology shares boosted the market and the Nasdaq ended the day higher. Apple shares climbed 1.5% to $114.12, giving the Nasdaq and S&P 500 their biggest boost. Small-cap stocks also bounced, with the Russell 2000 index gaining 1.8%.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the New York Stock Exchange by a ratio of 1.53 to 1. Still, the number of NYSE stocks making new 52-week lows was 255, compared with just 117 making new highs.

"The market in general is digesting a very big move since its October 15 low," said Adam Sarhan, chief executive of Sarhan Capital in New York. "Less than two moths ago we were flat for the year, so investors are hypersensitive to potential downdrafts in the market at this stage in the game."

Greece unnerved investors after the government brought a presidential vote forward in a political gamble that raised uncertainty over the country's transition out of its bailout.

Brent crude rebounded to settle up 1% after hitting a fresh five-year low of $65.29. Oil prices have been under pressure as the dollar strengthened and OPEC decided against an output cut, with Brent down more than 40% from its June high.

The S&P energy index ended up 0.9% after losing 3.9% on Monday.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 51.28 points, or 0.29%, to 17,801.2, the S&P 500 lost 0.49 points, or 0.02%, to 2,059.82 and the Nasdaq Composite added 25.77 points, or 0.54%, to 4,766.47.

Adding to the cautious tone was uncertainty over whether the US Federal Reserve will change its pledge to keep rates near zero for a "considerable time" when policymakers meet next week.

US telecom stocks led losses on the S&P 500 and Dow on concerns about an industry price war. Verizon Communications warned that promotions in its wireless business would bite into its fourth-quarter profit.

The S&P telecom index lost 3.2% while Verizon shares fell 4% to $46.92.

About 7.3 billion shares changed hands on US exchanges, above the 6.5 billion average this month, according to BATS Global Markets.

The S&P 500 is up 10.6% from its Oct. 15 close and is up 11.4% for the year so far.

US-listed shares of Seadrill gained 5.2% to $12.17. John Fredriksen, the biggest owner of the offshore driller, purchased another 1.3 million shares in the firm to raise his stake to 24.15%.