The stock market ended narrowly mixed yesterday after a strong earnings report from Caterpillar Inc. overshadowed questions about financial regulation.

The Dow Jones industrial average eked out a gain of one point, as broader indexes fell.

Banking shares fell as discussions pushing financial overhaul legislation continued in Washington.

Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar, whose results are seen as an economic indicator, reported earnings that beat analyst expectations after a one-time charge related to health care. The company also said economic conditions are "definitely improving" and that orders are significantly higher than last year.

Investors also got some good news from Whirlpool Corp., which said profits doubled on higher sales of appliances in the US and other countries. That's a signal that consumer spending is picking up.

News that car rental company Hertz Global Holdings Inc. agreed to buy rival Dollar Thrifty Automotive Inc. also helped push the market higher.

Investors were still being cautious. A series of upbeat earnings reports have sent stocks steadily higher over the past week, and many analysts believe that strong corporate earnings results are already priced into the market.

Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at the brokerage Avalon Partners Inc. in New York, said the market is "perhaps defying logic at this point, and nevertheless moving up".

"We will be headed for some sort of a pullback, which could happen at any time," Mr. Cardillo said, adding he does not think it will be too steep, maybe five percent to seven percent. "For the moment, the enthusiasm continues."

According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.75, or less than 0.1 percent, to 11,205.03. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 5.23, or 0.4 percent, to 1,212.05, while the Nasdaq composite index fell 7.2, or 0.3 percent, to 2,522.95.

Declining shares narrowly outpaced rising ones on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 1.2 billion shares.

The Dow got a lift from Caterpillar, which rose $2.87, or 4.2 percent, to close yesterday at $71.65.

This week will bring a stream of earnings news from companies across a range of industries, including Ford Motor Co., Exxon Mobil Corp. and UPS Inc. Consumer products companies including Procter & Gamble Co. and Colgate Palmolive are also scheduled to release their results.

Investors also got some reassurance about Greece's debt problems. The Greek government on Friday said it wanted to tap a rescue package from 15 European countries and the International Monetary Fund.

Chris Hobart, founder, CEO and senior financial advisor at Charlotte, North Carolina-based Hobart Financial Group, said there are "several other countries who are in tough situations as well and are going to potentially need that same level of help".

Investors have been concerned that Greece could default on its debt and that the trouble there would spread to other countries. Countries like Ireland and Portugal are also carrying big debt loads. Germany and other countries that have already lent Greece money, could lose it if Greece defaults on the loans.

Deal news also helped lift share prices. Hertz, the world's largest car rental company, agreed to buy rival Dollar Thrifty for almost $1.2 billion in cash and stock.

Hertz ended the day up $1.81, or 14.1 percent, at $14.69, while Dollar Thrifty rose $4.22, or 10.9 percent, to $43.07.

Financial shares slid as negotiations on financial overhaul legislation continued in Washington.

Senate Democrats reached a tentative deal on sweeping new rules for the derivatives market. Derivatives are the complex securities blamed for helping precipitate the 2008 financial crisis.

"We are starting to see the financials crack, or get a little shaky," Mr. Hobart said, speaking about bank and other financial company stocks. "Going forward really for the next several months we are going to see a lot of choppiness and volatility in financials, simply because we don't know all the plans (the government) is putting together."

JPMorgan Chase & Co. lost $1.05, or 2.3 percent, to $43.89, while Bank of America Corp. shed 38 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $18.05.

Citigroup Inc.'s shares were also down 5.1 percent after the Treasury Department said it plans to sell up to 1.5 billion shares of Citigroup stock, its latest move to unwind the support it provided big banks during the financial crisis. Citi shares closed off 25 cents at $4.61.