Major Averages Remain Nearly Flat In Mid-Day Trading

(RTTNews) - Stocks have shown a lack of direction throughout the trading day on Tuesday, as traders seem reluctant to make any significant moves. The major averages have spent the day bouncing back and forth across the unchanged line.

Most of the major sectors are showing only modest moves in mid-day trading, contributing to the lackluster performance by the broader markets.

Trucking stocks are seeing considerable weakness, however, with the Dow Jones Trucking Index down by 1.5 percent. C.H. Robinson (CHRW), Con-way (CNW), and J.B. Hunt (JBHT) are posting notable losses on the day.

Weakness is also visible among railroad stocks, as reflected by the 1.1 percent drop by the Dow Jones Railroad Index. The index is pulling back off yesterday's record closing high.

Tobacco and utilities stocks have also moved to the downside, while brokerage, banking, and airline stocks are seeing some strength on the day.

Currently, the major averages are posting modest losses on the day. The Dow is down 5.81 points or less than a tenth of a percent at 15,970.21, the Nasdaq is down 2.76 points or 0.1 percent at 3,986.30 and the S&P 500 is down 1.98 points or 0.1 percent at 1,789.55.