U.S. stocks were little changed, following the biggest rally since August for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, as optimism about third-quarter earnings overshadowed concern about Europe’s debt crisis.
Dow 11,425.53 -7.65 -0.07%, Nasdaq 2,579 +12.54 +0.49%, S&P 500 1,195.48 +0.59 +0.05%
Alcoa Inc., the biggest U.S. aluminum producer, rose 3 percent ahead of its quarterly results today. Mosaic Co. jumped 5.4 percent, pacing gains in fertilizer producers, as Credit Suisse Group AG said the industry’s valuations “look highly compelling.” Apple Inc., the largest technology company, climbed 3 percent. AMR Corp. rallied 8.4 percent as American Airlines joined its bigger U.S. peers with deeper seating cuts.