Stocks briefly pared losses on Tuesday after upbeat data on consumer confidence, but disappointing corporate earnings weighed on shares.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 23.99 points, or 0.20 percent, at 11,956.53. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 2.15 points, or 0.17 percent, at 1,288.69. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 9.73 points, or 0.36 percent, at 2,707.82.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)