U.S. Stocks Eke Out Small Gains

U.S. stocks closed modestly higher on Tuesday, snapping a three-day slump. The main indexes switched between small gains and losses, trading in a narrow range. Gains on Wall Street were led by defensive plays, such as telecoms, utilities and consumer staples stocks. The S&P 500 closed 4.04 points, or 0.2%, higher at 2,016.70. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 9.72 points, or less than 0.1%, at 17,158.66. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite ended the day slightly lower, down 11.66 points, or 0.2%, at 4,891.43.