Investing.com - U.S. stocks were mixed on Wednesday, after data showed that U.S. new orders for long lasting manufactured goods rose less than expected last month while uncertainty over the handling of the euro zone’s debt crisis continued to weigh.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average eased 0.03%, the S&P 500 index lost 0.10%, while the Nasdaq Composite index rose 0.22%.
The Commerce Department said durable goods orders rose 2.2% in February, partially reversing January's revised 3.6% decline, but fell short of expectations for a 3.0% increase.
Core durable goods orders, which exclude transportation, rose by a seasonally adjusted 1.6% in February, compared to expectations for a 1.5% gain.
Meanwhile, investors remained focused on Spanish borrowing costs ahead of the country’s budget statement on Friday, amid concerns that the government will pull back on imposing harsh austerity measures in the face of a looming recession.
Energy companies were among the top losers, as oil and gas giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil lost 0.17% and 0.27% respectively, while Nabors Industries saw shares decline 0.84%.
Investors were notably focused on French group Total as a gas leak from its Elgin platform in the U.K. North Sea continued for a fourth day.
On the upside, financial stocks moved broadly higher, led by Bank of America, up 0.83%, as the U.S. lender is looking to create an international advisory board that could help steer chief executive officer Brian Moynihan's overseas strategy.
Shares in Citigroup rose 0.63%, Goldman Sachs added 0.18%, while JP Morgan edged down 0.02%.
Capital One also added to gains, edging up 0.02% after Bernstein and Citigroup boosted their price target on the credit-card provider. However, Citigroup removed the firm from its "top picks" list.
Elsewhere, Apple shares climbed 0.91% after the computer software company said it will email all Australian buyers of its new iPad to offer them a refund, after the nation's consumer watchdog accused it of misleading advertising over a key aspect of the product.
Also in the tech sector, Nokia surged 2.23% after the struggling cellphone company launched its first smartphone in China, which will be supported by one of the country's three major state-owned carriers.
In earnings, Family Dollar Stores advanced 0.36% after the dollar-store chain posted better-than-expected results, thanks to strong sales during the holiday season.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The EURO STOXX 50 dropped 0.43%, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.20%, Germany's DAX slid 0.34%, while Britain's FTSE 100 retreated 0.30%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 1.15%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index shed 0.7%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish government data on crude oil stockpiles.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average eased 0.03%, the S&P 500 index lost 0.10%, while the Nasdaq Composite index rose 0.22%.
The Commerce Department said durable goods orders rose 2.2% in February, partially reversing January's revised 3.6% decline, but fell short of expectations for a 3.0% increase.
Core durable goods orders, which exclude transportation, rose by a seasonally adjusted 1.6% in February, compared to expectations for a 1.5% gain.
Meanwhile, investors remained focused on Spanish borrowing costs ahead of the country’s budget statement on Friday, amid concerns that the government will pull back on imposing harsh austerity measures in the face of a looming recession.
Energy companies were among the top losers, as oil and gas giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil lost 0.17% and 0.27% respectively, while Nabors Industries saw shares decline 0.84%.
Investors were notably focused on French group Total as a gas leak from its Elgin platform in the U.K. North Sea continued for a fourth day.
On the upside, financial stocks moved broadly higher, led by Bank of America, up 0.83%, as the U.S. lender is looking to create an international advisory board that could help steer chief executive officer Brian Moynihan's overseas strategy.
Shares in Citigroup rose 0.63%, Goldman Sachs added 0.18%, while JP Morgan edged down 0.02%.
Capital One also added to gains, edging up 0.02% after Bernstein and Citigroup boosted their price target on the credit-card provider. However, Citigroup removed the firm from its "top picks" list.
Elsewhere, Apple shares climbed 0.91% after the computer software company said it will email all Australian buyers of its new iPad to offer them a refund, after the nation's consumer watchdog accused it of misleading advertising over a key aspect of the product.
Also in the tech sector, Nokia surged 2.23% after the struggling cellphone company launched its first smartphone in China, which will be supported by one of the country's three major state-owned carriers.
In earnings, Family Dollar Stores advanced 0.36% after the dollar-store chain posted better-than-expected results, thanks to strong sales during the holiday season.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The EURO STOXX 50 dropped 0.43%, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.20%, Germany's DAX slid 0.34%, while Britain's FTSE 100 retreated 0.30%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 1.15%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index shed 0.7%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish government data on crude oil stockpiles.