NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks cut gains on Tuesday, with the Dow briefly turning negative after weaker-than-expected home sales numbers.
* Gross domestic product data, the government's final estimate for the third quarter, confirmed that the economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.5 percent as economists had expected. The focus has shifted to the current quarter, which is expected to be much weaker.
* The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> added 21.66 points, or 0.25 percent, to 8,541.43. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 3.37 points, or 0.39 percent, to 875.00. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 7.76 points, or 0.51 percent, at 1,540.11.
(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
