Stocks traded near break-even on Tuesday as an advance in financial shares offset caution over the sustainability of the market's recent rally.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 3.25 points, or 0.03 percent, to 9,289.81. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> edged up 0.45 points, or 0.04 percent, to 1,003.08. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shed 1.90 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,006.71.

(Editing by Padraic Cassidy)