NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Weak tech forecasts, rising oil prices and the wait for a Federal Reserve rate decision were among the factors pushing stocks lower early Tuesday, but a stronger-than-expected consumer indicator took the major indexes off their lows.

Around 10:05 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 76.59 to 7,795.56, after being down as much as 132 points in the early going. The Nasdaq composite, which closed at a six-year low Monday, rose 4.52 to 1,189.45 after starting lower. The Standard & Poor's 500 index dropped 6.40 to 827.30.

The Conference Board's September index of consumer confidence fell to 93.3 from a revised 94.5 in August. That reading was about a point above economists' estimates.

Few Fed watchers expect the central bank to cut interest rates, currently at a 40-year low, when policy makers meet in Washington Tuesday. But economists and market watchers alike will by listening carefully to the accompanying statement for hints of broader concerns about a slowdown in the economy. The announcement is expected around 2:15 p.m. ET.

In corporate news, two influential tech companies warned late Monday about the impact of slowing customer orders.

Cisco Systems (CSCO: down $0.11 to $11.85, Research, Estimates), the No. 1 maker of gear that directs internet traffic said its customers are having a harder time projecting their near-term business prospects in the current spending environment. Semiconductor production gear maker Novellus Systems (NVLS: up $0.28 to $21.05, Research, Estimates) said customer orders could be even lower than previously projected.

Another factor is oil prices. Jitters about a potential U.S. military strike against Iraq and delays in production in the Gulf of Mexico due to Tropical Storm Isidore sent crude futures in both Asia and London reeling.

Brent crude futures gained 50 cents to $29.63 a barrel in London.

European markets fell at midday, while Asian-Pacific stocks finished broadly lower Tuesday.

Treasury prices rose in early trading, pushing the 10-year note yield down to 3.65 percent, down from the 3.68 percent yield late Monday that was the lowest since 1958. The dollar slid versus the yen and the euro. Gold prices rose.