S&P SmallCap 600 in Focus: AHC OMX

The S&P SmallCap 600 Index gained 1.09 points to 349.22. The index tracks stocks with a market capitalization between $300 million and $2 billion.

Small-cap companies make up about 3 percent of the total U.S. securities market, but are often cited as good investments due to their low valuations and potential to grow into big-cap stocks.

A.H. Belo, which publishes the Dallas Morning News, the Providence Journal and other newspapers, surged $1.04, or 19.8 percent, to $6.29.

Stage Stores Inc. rose $1.43, or 12.1 percent, to $13.25. The clothing and accessories retailer said Tuesday its same-store sales rose 1.2 percent in June and expects to either meet or exceed its second-quarter profit guidance.

Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. gained 20 cents, or 10.1 percent, to $2.19 after shares of the recreational vehicle fell sharply on Monday.

Among the decliners, OfficeMax Inc. tumbled $2.01, or 14.5 percent, to $11.82 after the office supply retailer touched an all-time low of $11.07 earlier in the session. Its rival, Office Depot Inc., forecast a 10 percent drop in quarterly same-store sales and predicted a "difficult" environment for the rest of the year.

Shares of Century Aluminum Co. fell $8.34, or 13.6 percent, to $52.85 after the aluminum maker said it will pay $1.7 billion in cash and securities to its largest shareholder to cancel fixed-price sales contracts. The company also said it will issue 6.5 million new shares.

Pigment maker Tronox Inc. gave up 23 cents, or 10.4 percent, to $1.99 after touching an all-time low of $1.77 earlier in the session. Lehman Brothers analyst Sergey Vasnetsov downgraded the stock to "Underweight" from "Equal Weight," citing weakness in the housing and auto markets and higher energy costs.