NEW YORK — An economic reality check is cooling the stock market's rally.

Stocks ended little changed yesterday as a key barometer of consumer confidence and a handful of disappointing earnings reports reminded investors that an economic recovery this year is far from assured. The Dow slipped 12 points, while the Nasdaq composite index posted a small gain.

Trading was more erratic than the past two days, but in all three days the major market indexes closed with only modest changes. Investors remain cautious but still aren't willing to give up on a rally that has propelled stocks up 11 percent in little more than two weeks.