A muddled finish for US stocks as earnings flow in

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ending more or less where they started as several companies reported earnings that disappointed investors.

Avon plunged 10 percent after its earnings fell far short of what the market was looking for. Clorox and MetLife also ended down about 1.5 percent each.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged down a quarter of a point to close at 1,883 Thursday.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 21 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,558. The Dow set an all-time high the day before.

The Nasdaq edged up 12 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,127.

Dish Network climbed 6 percent after The Wall Street Journal reported that AT&T had approached the company about a deal.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.61 percent.