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NEW YORK -- Investors refrained from making any big commitments in the stock market today, leaving stocks little changed as they tried to discern a trend in earnings and the economy. Dow slips 2.84
Associated Press
Blue chips fluctuated amid a series of bleak profit reports and forecasts. Tech stocks fared better, but they struggled to stay in positive territory.
The Dow Jones industrial average finished slightly lower, down 2.84 at 10,646.97. The Nasdaq composite index rose 18.76 to 2,859.15, and the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index ended up 3.90 at 1,364.30. The Russell 2000 index advanced slightly, up 0.19 at 502.25. Decliners and advancers were nearly even on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,436 up, 1,411 down, and 469 unchanged. NYSE volume was 1.28 billion shares, compared with 1.29 billion yesterday.
The 10-year Treasury note's price fell 6/32 point, or $1.88 per $1,000 in face value; its yield rose to 5.30 percent from 5.28 percent late yesterday. Prices and yields move in opposite directions. The 30-year bonds fell 5/32 point and yielded 5.66 percent, up from 5.65 percent late Tuesday.
With blue chips including DuPont and McDonald's issuing downbeat reports, investors were taking few chances.
DuPont surpassed profit forecasts by a penny but said challenging business conditions will pinch earnings into the first half of this year. The chemical products maker fell 19 cents to $41.88.
McDonald's, after warning that the first quarter will be difficult, tumbled $2.06 to $30.81. McDonald's also missed fourth-quarter earnings forecasts by a penny.