NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks turned mixed Tuesday morning after a weaker-than-expected consumer confidence report took the wind out of an early advance sparked by falling oil prices.

The Dow Jones industrial average (down 9.77 to 12,076.73, Charts) lost about 0.1 percent, around an hour into the session, giving back early gains. The blue-chip barometer has closed at record highs in 13 of the previous 20 sessions.

The broader S&P 500 (down 2.46 to 1,375.47, Charts) index treaded water. Last week, the S&P 500 index touched a nearly 6-year high.

The Nasdaq (down 1.14 to 2,362.63, Charts) fell 0.1 percent. The tech-fueled index had ended the previous session near 5-1/2 year highs hit last week.

The October Consumer Confidence index slipped to 105.4 from an upwardly revised 105.9 in September. The number was a surprise to economists, who were expecting a rise to 108, following a big rally in the stock market and a period of lower oil prices.

The report sent stocks lower, although the early advance had been pretty tentative anyway, at the end of a strong month on Wall Street.

Rallying tech shares and falling oil prices boosted the Nasdaq Monday, but the Dow struggled on a disappointing sales outlook from Wal-Mart (Charts).

Earnings news Tuesday was more upbeat, but that didn't necessarily help the stocks of the companies reporting.

Dow component Procter & Gamble reported higher quarterly earnings and sales that topped estimates and boosted its full-year earnings outlook. But investors took a 'sell-the-news' approach and sent P&G (down $0.67 to $63.14, Charts) shares lower.

Marathon Oil (down $1.79 to $83.50, Charts) reported sharply higher profits that beat Wall Street forecasts thanks to sustained higher oil prices. The company also reported revenue that dipped from a year ago. Investors took profits on the stock, which has surged this year.

Late Monday, insurer MetLife (down $1.04 to $57.91, Charts) reported quarterly earnings and revenue that rose from a year earlier and topped estimates. However, investors bailed out of the stock Tuesday morning.

Verizon (down $0.84 to $36.81, Charts) also continued to slide, one day after the phone company reported strong quarterly earnings, but left investors concerned about the strength of its non-traditional businesses, including broadband.

Market breadth was negative. On the New York Stock Exchange, losers beat winners by a narrow margin on volume of 330 million shares. On the Nasdaq, decliners beat advancers five to four on volume of 460 million shares.

Investors were also getting ready for a pair of economic reports due shortly. The Chicago PMI, a regional read on manufacturing, and the Conference Board's consumer confidence report were both expected shortly.

U.S. light crude oil for December delivery fell 21 cents to $58.15 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Treasury prices rallied, lowering the yield on the 10-year note to 4.63 percent from 4.67 percent late Monday. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.

COMEX gold for December delivery rose $1 to $608.40 an ounce.

Beware choppy waters ahead

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