LONDON (ShareCast) - (ShareCast News) - Stocks were trading on a mixed note at the middle of the week, despite better-than-expected readings on the jobs market and the broader economy, as shares of Apple traded at record highs.
At 1502 BST, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was off by 0.02% or 4.85 points at 21,840.90, with the S&P 500 edging higher by 0.13% or 3.26 points alongside it and the Nasdaq Composite ahead by 0.45% or 28.49 points to 6,330.73.

"Relief returned to markets on Wednesday after two-days of concern over North Korean missile threats and the huge damage inflicted on Texas by tropical storm Harvey," was LCG analyst Jasper Lawler's take on the situation.

Meanwhile, oil prices were lower ahead of the Energy Information Administration crude oil stocks data at 1530 BST. West Texas Intermediate was down 0.69% to $46.12 a barrel.

On the macroeconomic side of things, hiring in the US kept up a steady pace in August, increasing by 237,000 according to payroll specialist ADP's monthly tally, easily outpacing forecasts for a rise of 185,000.

Job creation was especially heavy among online retailers and distributors, according to Moody's Analytics chief economist, Mark Zandy.

Shortly afterwards, the Commerce Department published revised second quarter data showing that gross domestic product expanded at an annualised pace of 3.0% over the three months to June, up from an advanced estimate of 2.6%.

Year-on-year, GDP was ahead by 2.2%.

In all things Federal Reserve, in a speech at the Large Bank Directors Conference in Chicago, Illinois, Governor Jerome Powell opted not to make any remarks on monetary policy.

Meanwhile, in corporate news, Apple was in the spotlight - and trading at fresh record highs - amid investor anticipation ahead of the expected launched of a new iPhone model in September.

In parallel, United Technologies was reportedly on the hunt for a greater than $20bn tie-up with aircraft equipment manufacturer Rockwell Collins.

On a down note, stock in Barnes & Noble cratered after the publisher posted a fiscal first quarter loss of 75 cents, dwarfing analysts' estimates for 55 cents of red ink.

In tandem, shares of H&R Block were sharply lower after the company reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss late on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, alcohol company Brown-Forman reported earnings per share for the first three months of its fiscal year of 46 cents, ahead of the 39 cents expected on the Street. At $732m, revenues also topped analysts' estimates.

Dow Jones - Risers

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $222.65 1.22%
Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $31.79 0.98%
United Technologies Corp. (UTX) $119.48 0.66%
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $116.75 0.64%
JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $91.63 0.58%
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $102.98 0.40%
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (DD) $82.53 0.35%
Apple Inc. (AAPL) $163.40 0.30%
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $73.25 0.27%
Boeing Co. (BA) $241.06 0.24%

Dow Jones - Fallers

Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $122.29 -0.59%
Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) $195.64 -0.55%
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $48.25 -0.54%
General Electric Co. (GE) $24.31 -0.53%
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $131.51 -0.53%
Chevron Corp. (CVX) $107.40 -0.43%
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) $33.37 -0.39%
McDonald's Corp. (MCD) $158.79 -0.37%
Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) $91.98 -0.37%
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) $142.65 -0.34%

S&P 500 - Risers

Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) $83.05 4.40%
Martin Marietta Mtrl (MLM) $211.17 4.12%
Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) $78.50 3.64%
Vulcan Materials Co. (VMC) $120.27 3.24%
United States Steel Corp. (X) $26.68 2.77%
AutoNation Inc. (AN) $42.91 2.73%
Brown Forman Corp. Class B (BF.B) $52.48 2.50%
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) $80.39 2.34%
Netflix Inc. (NFLX) $172.70 2.30%
Advance Auto Parts (AAP) $96.93 1.90%

S&P 500 - Fallers

H&R Block Inc. (HRB) $27.11 -7.25%
Endo International Plc (ENDP) $8.47 -2.92%
Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY) $53.81 -2.20%
Western Digital Corp. (WDC) $88.14 -2.15%
Transocean Ltd. (RIG) $8.06 -2.07%
Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX) $14.93 -1.84%
Mylan Inc. (MYL) $29.98 -1.72%
Extra Space Storage (EXR) $76.83 -1.60%
Tenet Healthcare Corp. (THC) $17.35 -1.53%
Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN) $5.36 -1.47%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) $83.05 4.40%
Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) $86.40 4.12%
Incyte Corp. (INCY) $129.79 3.86%
Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) $78.50 3.64%
NetEase Inc. Ads (NTES) $272.85 2.90%
Netflix Inc. (NFLX) $172.70 2.30%
Microchip Technology Inc. (MCHP) $85.32 1.78%
Maxim Integrated Products Inc. (MXIM) $45.39 1.43%
Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) $64.36 1.39%
Marriott International - Class A (MAR) $101.57 1.34%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

Western Digital Corp. (WDC) $88.14 -2.15%
Mylan Inc. (MYL) $29.98 -1.72%
Seagate Technology Plc (STX) $31.00 -1.43%
American Airlines Group (AAL) $44.13 -0.96%
Mattel Inc. (MAT) $15.95 -0.96%
Dish Network Corp. (DISH) $57.32 -0.78%
Henry Schein Inc. (HSIC) $167.50 -0.55%
Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) $58.42 -0.46%
Paychex Inc. (PAYX) $56.33 -0.46%
Dentsply International Inc. (XRAY) $55.49 -0.38%

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