* Goldman Sachs posts strong profit, but shares off
* Corporate profits underpin the market
* June retail sales signal weak consumer demand
* Dow up 0.04 pct, S&P 500 up 0.2 pct, Nasdaq up 0.2 pct
*For up-to-the-minute market news click [STXNEWS/US]
(Updates to mid-afternoon, changes byline)
By Leah Schnurr
NEW YORK, July 14 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were stuck in a
narrow range on Tuesday as positive corporate results were
tempered by concern that consumer demand remains weak.
Analysts said the day's news, including a surge in profit
from Goldman Sachs (GS.N), was already accounted for after
optimism that banks' earnings will be stronger than
anticipated lifted the major U.S. stock indexes more than 2
percent on Monday.
Investors were also cautious, with other major companies
set to reveal their scorecards later this week, including Bank
of America (BAC.N) and General Electric (GE.N). Intel (INTC.O)
is expected after the closing bell.
Data showed June retail sales rose more than forecast, but
a big part of that gain was due to rising gasoline prices.
Excluding autos and gas sales, retail sales registered a
fourth consecutive monthly decline. For details see
[ID:nN14252432].
A rebound in sales is considered vital for the U.S. economy
to bounce back from recession, as consumer spending accounts
for roughly two-thirds of the country's economic activity.
"The consumer remains extremely weak and that's the
biggest headwind we face, in terms of the economy picking up
steam," said Michael Sheldon, chief market strategist at RDM
Financial in Westport, Connecticut.
"As a result, investors face a large amount of uncertainty
over the near term as to the next direction for the market."
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 3.32 points,
or 0.04 percent, to 8,335.00. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index
.SPX added 1.64 points, or 0.18 percent, to 902.69. The
Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC gained 3.88 points, or 0.22
percent, to 1,797.09.
Goldman Sachs Group's surge in quarterly profit handily
beat expectations, but its stock was off 0.8 percent at
$148.30, retreating from a 5 percent jump in the previous
session. [ID:nN14175292]
Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N) profit also surpassed
forecasts and the Dow component rose 0.5 percent to $58.02.
[ID:nN14253944] This earnings season is under particular
scrutiny as investors look for signs of economic improvement.
Indeed, comments from the chief executive of railroad
company CSX Corp (CSX.N) that the worst of the recession seems
to be over helped bolster stocks. [ID:nN14255730]
The company, which reported better-than-expected results on
Monday after the closing bell, saw its shares climb 6.7
percent to $34.72. The Dow Jones Transportation Average .DJT
gained 1.2 percent.
But Dell Corp (DELL.O) limited gains after the personal
computer maker forecast lower gross margins in the quarter as
demand has shifted toward cheaper computers such as netbooks.
[ID:nN13208933] Dell's shares slumped 7.7 percent to $12.02.
(Editing by Jan Paschal)
