Stocks Struggle for Direction as Investors Digest Mixed Economic Data

Stocks are struggling for direction in mid-day trading today as investors digest some mixed U.S. economic data released earlier today.

At last check, the Dow Jones was trading flat at 13,171.65, the S&P 500 was trading 0.15% higher at 1,406.13, and the Nasdaq was trading 0.47% higher at 3,031.05.

Transportation sector has been the best performer in the S&P 500 in mid-day trading today. At last check, the sector was trading 0.52% higher. Conglomerates are currently trading 0.28% higher. Consumer Cyclical sector is also gaining in mid-day trading. At last check, the sector was trading 0.23% higher. Industrials have been the worst performers in the S&P 500 in trading today. At last check, the sector was down 0.41%. Basic Materials sector is currently trading 0.27% lower.

Among the major gainers and losers in mid-day trading today are JDS Uniphase Corporation (NASDAQ: JDSU), which is currently trading 10.11% higher at $11.76, Cleantech Solutions International Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNT), which is currently trading 10.06% lower at $3.04, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF), which is currently trading 8.04% higher at $34.93, Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS), which is currently trading 18.13% lower at $11.02, Towers Watson & Co. (NYSE: TW), which is currently trading 6.35% higher at $54.96, Deere & Company (NYSE: DE), which is currently trading 6.98% lower at $74.54, and Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ: PEGA), which is currently trading 4.87% higher at $27.13.

On the economic front, a report released by the Labor Department showed that consumer prices were flat in the month of July. Economists were expecting consumer prices to rise 0.2% in July. Meanwhile, a gauge of manufacturing activity in the New York state contracted in August to minus 5.85. Economists were expecting the index to show a reading of 6.5. A report released by the Federal Reserve showed that industrial output rose 0.6% in July, in-line with expectations.

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Post Written By: Ed Liston Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.