The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) fell 17 points, or 0.1%, to end at 11,416. The S&P 500 (SPX) ended little changed at 1,195. The Nasdaq composite (COMP) gained 17 points, or 0.6%, to 2,583.
The choppy trading came a day after stocks rallied sharply, as investors cheered a pledge from European leaders to unveil a plan for solving the eurozone's debt crisis by the end of the month.
But the tone remains cautious. All day, investors were eagerly awaiting the outcome of the deeply divided Slovakian parliament's vote to overhaul the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) -- essentially a bailout fund for the region's most troubled nations. Shortly after U.S. markets closed Slovakia voted the measure down.
The reforms needed to be ratified by all 17 eurozone nations, and Slovakia was the last country to vote.
"Any delay in plans to stabilize the euro zone and further enhance governments' ability to bailout banks and countries in need is certainly not comforting for the markets," said Kate Warne, chief investment strategist with Edward Jones.
In another reminder of Europe's debt problems, Standard & Poor's cut the credit ratings or lowered the outlook on 15 Spanish banks.
Meanwhile, international monitors in Greece completed a review of the nation's finances, suggesting the latest installment of bailout money could be disbursed in early November.
The dollar rose against the euro, the British pound and the Japanese yen.
Oil for November delivery gained 48 cents to $85.89 a barrel.
Gold futures for December delivery edged up 20 cents to $1,671 an ounce.
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