U.S. stocks

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 33 points, or 0.2 percent, to end at 17,511 on Tuesday. 

The Standard & Poor's 500 index slipped five points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,096, and the Nasdaq composite sank 32 points, or 0.6 percent, to 5,059.

Wal-Mart's stock fell more than 3 percent after the retailer reported lower quarterly earnings and warned that its annual profit will likely fall short of previous estimates.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 43 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,501 as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index slipped two points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,199. The Nasdaq composite was lower by 10 points, or 0.2 percent, at 5,081.

Shares of Wal-Mart fell 2.4 percent after the world's largest retailer reported a lower second-quarter profit and cut its earnings forecast for the year.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 67 points, or 0.4 percent, to end at 17,545 on Monday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 10 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,102. The Nasdaq composite climbed 43 points, or 0.9 percent, to 5,091.

Stocks fell early on a report showing manufacturing activity in New York state contracted in August at the fastest pace since the Great Recession.

KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average fell 15 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,461 as of 10:32 a.m. Eastern time. The Standard & Poor's 500 index slipped one point, or less than 0.1 percent, to 2,090. The Nasdaq composite rose two points, or less than 0.1 percent, to 5,050.

MIXED BAG: Five of the 10 industry sectors of the S&P 500 index fell, led by a 0.4 percent drop in financial stocks.

KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average rose 47 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,445 as of 10:24 a.m. Eastern time. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose three points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,086. The Nasdaq composite fell two points, or less than 0.1 percent, to 5,031.

KEEPING SCORE: European stocks jumped in early trading, with France's CAC 40 rising 1.8 percent to 5,013.59. Germany's DAX gained 1.4 percent to 11,078.39 and Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.8 percent to 6,620.92. U.S. stocks were poised to open higher. Dow futures were up 0.2 percent to 17,049.00 and broader S&P 500 futures rose 0.2 percent to 2,089.30.

The price of oil fell to a six-year low Tuesday after OPEC said its production increased and China devalued its currency, suggesting economic growth there was weakening and could lead to lower oil demand.

Copper also fell sharply as traders feared a slowing Chinese economy would need less of it. Mining company Freeport-McMoRan sank 12 percent.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 212 points, or 1.2 percent, to 17,402.

Prices for oil and copper fell sharply Tuesday after China's government lowered the value of its currency.

Trade has been weakening in China and investors are seeing the government's move to weaken its currency as a sign of sluggishness in China's economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 168 points, or 1 percent, to 17,445.

Precision Castparts soared 19 percent Monday after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said it would buy the maker of industrial components for $32 billion.

Stocks rose in China after weak trade figures led investors to hope for new economic stimulus measures from the Chinese government.

The Dow gained 155 points, or 0.9 percent, to 17,527 as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time.

It was the seventh straight day of declines for the Dow Jones industrial average. That's the longest losing streak for the index since July 2011, when investors were worried that the U.S. would slip back into recession.