Stocks pared gains with major indexes briefly turning negative on Tuesday, as investors booked profits in late afternoon trade.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 3.22 points, or 0.03 percent, at 12,403.25. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 0.54 points, or 0.04 percent, at 1,333.41. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 1.54 points, or 0.06 percent, at 2,790.73.

(Reporting by Angela Moon, Editing by Jan Paschal)