NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ending mixed as a rally that pushed stocks up nearly 7 percent in December takes a pause.

Traders shrugged off a pickup in factory orders and a sharp rise in monthly sales from General Motors and Ford.

Stocks were mostly lower throughout the day Tuesday, although the Dow Jones industrial average of 30 large U.S. companies wound up slightly higher.

According to preliminary calculations, the Dow rose 20 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 11,691.

The broader S&P 500 index dipped 2 points, or 0.1 percent, to 1,270. The Nasdaq lost 10 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,681.

Roughly two stocks fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange. Trading volume was 1.1 billion shares.

Companies with operations in the Sacramento area:

Intel: +0.30 (1.44%); Apple: +1.72 (0.52%); McClatchy: +0.06 (1.25%)

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)