US stocks edge higher in midday trading

Gains in health care, technology and consumer-focused companies helped nudge U.S. stock indexes higher in midday trading Tuesday.

Energy stocks lagged as an early rally in oil prices evaporated.

With nearly 90 percent of S&P 500 companies already reporting, earnings this quarter have been OK, while revenue growth has not been as bad as expected, said Bob Doll, chief equity strategist at Nuveen Asset Management.

Endo International vaulted 22.2 percent a day after the medical device maker reported that it returned to profit in the second quarter.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals surged 18.4 percent after the Canadian drugmaker stuck by its earnings outlook from earlier this year, despite reporting a wider second-quarter loss.

Chemicals company Chemours and solar energy seller Vivint Solar rose sharply after posting better-than-expected earnings.

U.S. crude oil prices were headed lower after an early rally following OPEC's announcement that oil ministers of the 14-nation cartel will meet next month, well ahead of their previously scheduled November meeting.

The data, which followed a drop in Chinese exports last month, fueled investors' expectations that Beijing will implement more stimulus measures in a bid to soften the economy's slowdown.