Stronger earnings reports from Mattel, Coca-Cola and other big companies pushed the stock market higher in midday trading Tuesday.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 45 points to 12,772 shortly after noon Eastern.

Stocks wavered between gains and losses during morning trading. If the Dow finishes higher, it would mark the third day of gains for the average this month. The market has been taking a beating in July because of worries that Spain's banking system would fail and that U.S. corporate earnings would shrink.

Mattel jumped 10 percent, more than any other company in the S&P 500. The country's biggest toy maker said net income rose on better sales of Barbie dolls and lower advertising costs. Its stock jumped $3.10 to $34.14.

Coca-Cola posted higher income and revenue than Wall Street had expected, thanks in part to booming business overseas. Coke rose $1.19 to $77.65.

A grim assessment on the U.S.