New York, July 29 (DPA) Most US stocks edged lower Tuesday after a private group reported an unexpected setback in a benchmark consumer confidence survey.

The New York-based Conference Board's consumer-confidence index fell to 46.6 in July from 49.3 in June on concerns about the job market. The survey had shown an increase in confidence in April and May, when the index reached an eight-month high.

The news overshadowed signs that home prices are finally beginning to rise. The S&P/Case-Shiller Index of the country's 20 largest cities showed their first month-on-month gains in May since the summer of 2006.

The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 11.79 points, or 0.13 percent, to 9,096.72. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 2.56 points, or 0.26 percent, to 979.62. But the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index added 7.62 points, or 0.39 per cent, to 1,975.51.

The US currency rose against the euro to 70.59 euro cents from 70.22 euro cents Monday. The dollar fell against the Japanese currency to 94.65 yen from 95.25 yen.