Ford Motor Co, starting to ship its new aluminum-bodied F-150 pickup, fell as much as 4.4% after Deutsche Bank AG downgraded the automaker on concern that the truck won’t command premium prices amid low fuel costs.

Negotiators who bargained into the early hours were close to reaching a contract agreement to end a nationwide strike by 73,000 US car workers, two people who were briefed on the talks said today.

Stocks fluctuated before closing modestly higher today as oil prices neared $66 a barrel despite lower-than-expected damage estimates from Hurricane Rita.