Stocks Opened Mixed ahead of Key Services Data

U.S. stocks open mixed on Thursday, as investors watched for a report on the service sector that could help provide further clarity on the health of the domestic economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately declined 28.65 points, or 0.11%, to 26,049.97. The S&P 500 was up 0.43 point, or 0.01%, to 2,888.04. The Nasdaq Composite was down 0.34 point, to 7,784.91.

Oil futures drifted lower Thursday, with the U.S. benchmark on track for its eighth straight daily decline as worries over global demand persist. West Texas Intermediate crude for November delivery were down 11 cents, or 0.2%, at $52.53 a barrel. December Brent was off 16 cents, or 0.3%, at $57.53 a barrel.