The Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller Home Price Index, released Tuesday, fell 18.6 percent in February compared with a year ago, a small improvement over the 19 percent annual drop recorded in January.

Consumer confidence gained "considerably" in April, the Conference Board said. But investors put in a long day and only came close to breaking even.

By close, the Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.1 percent, 8.05 points, to 8,016.95. The Standard & Poor's 500 lost 2.35 points, 0.27 percent, 855.16. The Nasdaq composite index fell 0.33 percent, 5.60 points, to 1,673.81.

On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,581 stocks advanced and 1,409 declined on a volume of 6 billion shares traded.

The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond fell 25/32 to yield 3.007 percent.

The euro rose to $1.3147, compared to Monday's $1.3032. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar fell to 96.43 yen, compared to Monday's 96.80 yen.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei average lost 232.57 points, 2.67 percent, to 8,493.77.

In London, the FTSE 100 index dropped 70.61, 1.69 percent, to 4,096.40.

Former WaMu employees sue FDIC SEATTLE, April 28 (UPI) -- Four former employees of Washington Mutual sued federal regulators in Seattle, claiming they were cheated out of their severance pay.

Filed in U.S. District Court, the suit seeks class-action status to cover more than 100 former WaMu employees who had severance agreements in their contracts, Seattlepi.com reported Tuesday.

Regulators seized control of the bank Sept. 25. Most of its assets were later sold to JPMorgan Chase.

The FDIC argued the severance pay was withheld because there was no change of control of the bank, the complaint said.

The complaint asks for a trial by jury and demands "all class members be awarded appropriate damages against FDIC for breach of contract."

Treasury rejects GM's plan to help Delphi WASHINGTON, April 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Treasury rejected two General Motors Corp. attempts to ensure that parts-supplier Delphi Corp. would keep parts flowing to the automaker.

When GM accepted a emergency federal loan in January, it agreed the Treasury could veto company deals valued at $100 million or above.

Delphi, a former GM subsidiary, has been under bankruptcy protection since 2005. GM had offered to increase payments to Delphi by $150 million. The company also proposed buying Delphi's steering division. But the Treasure Department rejected both plans, the Detroit Free Press said.

Delphi has until May 9 to find a long-term solution for its financial woes. After that, creditors could chose to liquidate the company.

GM would be crippled without Delphi, observers said.

"If they're going to run out of money, that could halt production, that could bring GM to its knees," restructuring expert Van Conway said.

Walgreen to buy 34 New Jersey stores DEERFIELD , Ill., April 28 (UPI) -- A U.S. bankruptcy judge said Walgreen Co. could purchase 34 Drug Fair stores in New Jersey for $55.95 million.

Drug Fair, owned by private equity group Sun Capital Partners, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March, The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger reported Tuesday.

Its bankruptcy filing lists debts amounting to $500 million and assets of $100 million.

Prescription medicine distributor Cardinal Health is listed as a creditor that is owed $18 million. In addition, owners of three independent pharmacies that sold their businesses to Drug Fair in 2008 are owed a total of $2.3 million, the newspaper said.

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