US stock indexes higher in afternoon trading; oil rising
U.S. stock indexes edged higher in midday trading Thursday as investors weighed the latest batch of company earnings and deal news. Energy and industrial companies climbed, offsetting losses in utilities and real estate companies. Small-company stocks were faring better than the rest of the market. The price of crude oil rose.
KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 index rose 4 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,727 as of 12:17 p.m. Eastern Time. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 12 points, or 0.1 percent, to 24,781. The Nasdaq composite added 10 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,409. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks picked up 9 points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,625, a day after it closed at an all-time high.