U.S. Stocks Fluctuate Amid Greece Negotiations as Energy Slides

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U.S. stocks fluctuated, after equities Tuesday reached their highest level this year, as energy and utility companies fell while Germany and Greece met for debt negotiations.

Energy shares in the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index lost 0.6 percent as oil prices declined for a second day. Pier 1 Imports Inc. tumbled 23 percent after cutting its full-year forecast. PepsiCo Inc. increased 2 percent as fourth-quarter profit topped estimates even as currency headwinds eroded sales. Rite Aid Corp. added 9.8 percent after agreeing to buy EnvisionRX for about $2 billion.

The S&P 500 Index fell less than 0.1 percent to 2,067.99 at 12:23 p.m. in New York. The benchmark gauge rallied 1.1 percent Tuesday to approach an all-time high reached Dec. 29. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 29.54 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,839.22 Wednesday. The Nasdaq 100 Index climbed 0.4 percent.

Source : Bloomberg