Stocks fell on Tuesday as a surprise drop in a gauge of consumer confidence overshadowed signs of stabilization in housing and solid earnings from Walgreen Co .

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> unofficially dropped 46.25 points, or 0.47 percent, to 9,743.11. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 2.40 points, or 0.23 percent, to 1,060.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shed 6.70 points, or 0.31 percent, to 2,124.04.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Kenneth Barry)