Stocks mark time ahead of earnings

U.S. stocks posted small moves in either direction as Alcoa prepared to kick-off first quarter earnings season.
The Dow rose 3 points to 12,612. The S&P 500 rose 2 points to 1,372. The Nasdaq was down 6 points to 2,364. Crude oil closed just above $109 a barrel.

Conway Gittens reports from New York.