U.S. stocks edge lower, oil prices rise

Stocks edged lower in unsteady trading on Wall Street as investors closely watch developments in China and economic data amid worries about stubbornly hot inflation. The S&P 500 fell 0.4 percent in afternoon trading Tuesday. The Dow and the Nasdaq also slipped. Small-company stocks were mostly higher. Energy stocks rose as crude oil prices climbed about 2.5 percent. Several big health care and technology stocks slipped and checked gains within the broader market. Hong Kong’s benchmark index jumped overnight and other Asian markets also rose. Treasury yields were higher. A business group reported that consumer confidence remained strong in November.