Stocks Opened Mixed after GDP Report

U.S. stocks opened mixed on Thursday, even as a reading on growth in the U.S. economy came in better-than-expected. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately rose 35.75 points, or 0.14%, to 26,020.91. The S&P 500 was down 2.38 points, or 0.09%, to 2,790.00. The Nasdaq Composite fell 6.64 points, or 0.09%, to 7,547.87.

Oil prices slipped modestly Thursday, tugged down by weaker Chinese economic data and lower stock-market action after U.S.-North Korea nuclear talks ended without a deal. April West Texas Intermediate crude steadied to near $56.95 a barrel. April Brent fell 35 cents, or 0.5%, to $66.04 a barrel.

In the fourth-quarter, U.S. gross domestic product grew at an annualized rate of 2.6%, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The Chicago PMI surged 8 points to a reading of 64.7 in February, MNI Indicators said Thursday. That’s the largest monthly rise since February 2017. Any reading over 50 indicates improving conditions.