Most U.S. stocks gained as an advance in energy shares and Citigroup Inc.’s agreement to allow some homeowners to avoid foreclosure helped the market erase an early slide spurred by a worsening earnings outlook at retailers. 

The S&P500 Index added 0.3 percent to 909.73 after slumping 3 percent yesterday and 1.1 percent this morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 27.24 points, or 0.3 percent, to 8,742.46, with Wal-Mart posting the biggest drop.

(Bloomberg.com)