Midday Report: Consumer Sentiment Falls; U.S. Stocks See Choppy Trade

Stocks lost earlier highs on Tuesday as the health care sector pulled markets lower. Major drugmaker Eli Lilly (LLY) - Get Report cut full-year profit estimates, sparking concern over the profitability of other health care stocks. Consumer sentiment worsened in April as economic expectations grew more pessimistic, according to the Conference Board. Sentiment on current business conditions also fell, while the number of consumers planning to buy big-ticket items such as cars or homes in the next six months declined. Procter & Gamble (PG) - Get Report bested third-quarter earnings estimates, though sales did fall on currency exchange and the negative impact from the Venezuelan economic crisis. P&G also detailed plans to repurchase shares totaling $8 billion this fiscal year. TheStreet's Keris Lahiff reports from Wall Street.