Markets Right Now: Dow Jones industrials recede from 26,000

The latest on developments in financial markets (All times local):

4 p.m.

Losses by industrial and technology companies pulled stocks lower, erasing an early gain that sent the Dow Jones industrial average past 26,000 points for the first time.

General Electric slumped 3 percent Tuesday after reporting a $6.2 billion write-down.

Media company Viacom dropped 7 percent following reports that it's not in talks to merge with CBS.

Energizer surged 14.5 percent after saying it will acquire the battery and lighting assets of Spectrum.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 9 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,776.

The Dow fell 10 points, less than 0.1 percent, to 25,792. It was up as much as 282 points earlier.

The Nasdaq composite lost 37 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,223.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.54 percent.

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11:45 a.m.

Stocks are trading higher on Wall Street, sending the Dow Jones industrial average trading above 26,000 for the first time.

Health care and technology companies posted some of the biggest gains in midday trading Tuesday.

Merck jumped 7 percent and chipmaker Qualcomm gained 3.3 percent.

Energizer Holdings surged 15 percent after the company said it will acquire the battery and lighting assets of Spectrum.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index climbed 6 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,793.

The Dow industrials gained 159 points, or 0.6 percent, to 25,958. It was up as much as 282 points earlier.

The Nasdaq composite rose 22 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,281.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.53 percent.

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9:45 a.m.

Stocks are opening higher on Wall Street as investors return from a long holiday weekend, sending the Dow Jones industrial average above 26,000 for the first time.

Apple and Microsoft each rose 1 percent in early trading Tuesday.

Energizer Holdings surged 16.5 percent after the company said it will acquire the battery and lighting assets of Spectrum.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index climbed 15 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,801.

The Dow gained 214 points, or 0.8 percent, to 26,017. The Nasdaq rose 53 points, or 0.7 percent, to 7,315.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.53 percent.