Wall Street: Mixed Close as Calm Returns

U.S. stocks are closing mixed after a calm trading day interrupted last week's spasm of fearful selling.

The Dow Jones industrial average wavered Monday after opening at its lowest level since December. It had plunged 275 points on Friday after a dismal report on the U.S. labor market.

Investors appeared less fearful about the finances of some debt-strapped countries.

The Dow closed down 17 points at 12,101. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose a fraction to 1,278. The Nasdaq rose 13 to 2,760.

Homebuilders fell sharply for a second day, wiping out one-third of the gains they posted in the first three months of the year.

About four stocks fell for every three that rose on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was above average at 3.95 billion shares.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)