US Markets

U.S. stocks registered a third-straight day of losses after a mixed round of housing and manufacturing data combined with worries about Europe's debt-laden countries to weigh on investor sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 25.05 points, or 0.20%, to 12356.21, its lowest close since April 19. General Electric led the blue-chip index lower, dropping 29 cents, or 1.5%, to $19.10, while American Express fell 56 cents, or 1.1% to 50.56.

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The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index fell 1.09 points, or 0.08%, to 1316.28, as industrial and consumer discretionary stocks led the declines. Conversely, energy stocks rose 1.3%, fueled by Goldman Sachs boosting its crude-oil-price forecasts, which helped keep the broader declines in check. The technology-oriented Nasdaq Composite fell 12.74 points, or 0.46%, to 2746.16.

On the economic front, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region is contracting this month after seven months of expansion. The service sector also slowed but remained in expansion. Additionally, new-home sales increased 7.3% in April from a month earlier, more than economists had anticipated.

The enthusiasm was tempered, however, as sales still are down 23.1% from a year ago. Worries about Europe's debt-laden countries also continued to linger. Moody's Investors Services warned Tuesday that a Greek debt restructuring could affect the credit ratings of other European governments and would probably also lead to rating downgrades for Greek banks. Among stocks in focus, Russian search engine Yandex made swift trading gains during its debut on the Nasdaq Stock Market Tuesday, rising 13.84, or 55%, to 38.84.

European Markets

European stock markets rebounded modestly Tuesday, helped by gains in commodity-related shares and as a closely watched German business-confidence survey was stronger than expected. The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.2% to close at 275.39, after slumping 1.7% Monday on worries about the finances of some euro-zone nations.

Among major national benchmarks, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 increased 0.4% to 5858.41, Germany's DAX gained 0.4% to 7150.66 and France's CAC-40 added 0.3% to 3916.88. But some analysts cautioned that the uptick was little more than a "relief rally" after Monday's losses.

Tuesday, Greece, the first of three euro-zone members to have accepted an international bailout, confirmed it had reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund and European Union for a new economic adjustment plan. Greece's main opposition party, however, rejected the austerity measures. Industrial and technology stocks rose as the Ifo Institute's index of German business confidence was unchanged in May at a reading of 114.2.

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Economists had forecast a decline in the index to 113.7. Chip maker Infineon Technologies rose 2% and car maker Volkswagen added 1.5%. Among major market movers: mining stocks were lifted by rising commodity prices. Rio Tinto rose 2%, while silver miner Fresnillo gained 4.1%. Commodities trader Glencore International gained 2.1% to 525 pence on its first day of unconditional trading on the London Stock Exchange and ahead of its expected entry into the FTSE 100. But the shares remained below the price set for the initial public offering.

Asian Markets

Asian stock markets ended mostly higher Tuesday as investors looked for bargains after a steep fall in global equities the previous day, but the Shanghai market lost ground on worries about China's economic outlook.

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average finished 0.2% higher at 9,477.17, South Korea's Kospi added 0.3% to 2,061.76, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.1% to 22,730.78 and Taiwan's Taiex gained 0.1% to 8,756.61. In the opposite direction, China's Shanghai Composite index fell 0.3% to end the day at 2,767.06.

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In Tokyo, Sony Corp. rose 2.7%, despite forecasting a huge loss for the fiscal year ended March 31 and warning that it now expected a loss in the current financial year. Analysts at Deutsche Bank said that while the forecast wasn't good news, it reduced uncertainty for investors and hence was a positive. Komatsu climbed 1.5% and Hitachi Construction Machinery added 1.1%.

Shanghai-listed stocks extended Monday's sharp decline on worries about an economic slowdown in China. PetroChina lost 1.9% and Agricultural Bank of China gave up 0.7%. In Hong Kong, shares of Cnooc rose 1.1% and PetroChina added 0.8% to support market gains after a volatile session.

Base Metals

Copper closed almost 1% higher on the London Metal Exchange Tuesday after a bounce in the euro helped the metals stage a technical rebound, while a bullish report from U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs boosted confidence in future prospects for the base metal markets. Crude oil prices touched $100 Tuesday as a weak dollar and bullish price forecasts from several investment banks spurred investment interest in commodities.

Light, sweet crude for July delivery gained $1.89, or 1.9%, to settle at $99.59 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The benchmark contract had touched a high of $100.09 earlier in the day. Brent crude for July delivery on the ICE futures exchange was up $2.25, or 2%, at $112.35 a barrel. The dollar slipped against the euro after upbeat data on German business confidence boosted the European currency. Also, oil analysts at Goldman Sachs raised their price forecasts on

Brent crude Tuesday, saying global economic growth will continue to pressure spare capacity among major oil producers. Silver futures rose sharply, outpacing gold's advance as gains by many commodities and continued worries about euro-zone debt helped the metal rebound after its recent selloff.

The most actively traded silver contract, for July delivery, settled up $1.224, or 3.5%, at $36.128 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Thinly traded May silver ended 3.5% higher at $36.121 an ounce.

Gold futures ended at three-week highs as investors looked for a safe-haven. The most actively traded gold contract, for June delivery, ended up $7.90, or 0.5%, at $1,523.30 an ounce.

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