Blue-chip stocks fell Tuesday for a second session, while the Nasdaq Composite finished slightly higher on low volume as investors weighed mixed economic reports and took a pause ahead of potential central-bank moves. Case-Shiller index of property values in 20 cities rose 0.5% in June from the year-earlier period, the first such gain in nearly two years. Separately, the Conference Board’s index of consumer confidence declined in August to a nine-month low, with data illustrating pessimism about job prospects and the economy. Spanish GDP shrank 0.4% in the second quarter, following a decline of 0.3% in the first quarter, confirming a report released earlier this month from Eurostat showing the overall eurozone economy shrank 0.2% in the second quarter. Hewlett-Packard and Dell lead tech decliners, while Lexmark put in notable gains. Both H-P and Dell saw their shares fall almost 2%, after Mizuho Securities analyst said that recent checks with Taiwanese computer manufacturers suggest the “PC market visibility for the [second half] remains low and some in the supply chain are pushing out expectations for PC market recovery to 2013.” Lexmark rose 13.7% after the co. said it would exit the inkjet printer business and cut 1,700 jobs to save the company $95 million annually. Lexmark also said it would buy back $100 million worth of company stock through the end of the year.
