Stocks Traded Mixed, Dow Edged Slightly Higher

U.S. stocks were traded mixed in the early trading on Wednesday, with the Dow edged slightly higher, as investors awaited fresh impetus to push equities in either direction. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately rose 19.61 points, or 0.08%, to 25,139.50. The S&P 500 was down 0.05 point, to 2,809.50. The Nasdaq Composite fell 13.43 points, or 0.17%, to 7,841.69.

Oil prices fell on Wednesday amid expectations slower demand will combine with rising production. August West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.7%, or 48 cents, at $67.60 a barrel. September Brent oil fell 0.6%, or by 43 cents, to $71.73 a barrel.

Morgan Stanley (MS) reported second-quarter earnings and revenue that rose above expectations, boosted by better-than-expected sales and trading performance. Net income rose to $2.27 billion, or $1.30 a share, from $1.59 billion, or 87 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Total revenue increased to $10.61 billion from $9.50 billion.