The stalemate in debt talks dragged down stocks for a second day on Tuesday, and light volume showed investors remained reluctant to make bets despite another round of healthy earnings.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 90.37 points, or 0.72 percent, to unofficially close at 12,502.43. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 5.38 points, or 0.40 percent, at 1,332.05. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 2.84 points, or 0.10 percent, at 2,839.96.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Leslie Adler)

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