Dow Jones: +7 at 13,176
S&P 500: +1 at 1,402
NASDAQ Composite: -5 at 3,011
LONDON (SHARECAST) - The Dow Jones industrial average extended its winning streak to a fourth day but the more widely based S and P 500 index was barely changed while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite shed ground, on a quiet day for equities.
Indices were set back early in the day after Richard Fisher, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said enough economic stimulus is already in the system.
Investors tuck into Dean Foods
Dairy and soy products provider Dean Foods rose sharply after announcing plans to spin off its WhiteWave unit. The flotation is expected to raise around $300m for the company. The group's stock has now doubled in value in the last 12 months.
Computer and printer market Hewlett-Packard was the best performer among Dow Jones constituents after it raised earnings guidance for the current quarter.
Department store Macy's was on a lot of investors' shopping lists as second quarter earnings came in ahead of expectations.
Walt Disney was another stock benefiting from better than expected figures. The film studio and theme park operator got a boost from the box office success of its film based on the Marvel comics superhero team The Avengers.
Computer Sciences, the business services firm, shot up after both revenue and profit topped market forecasts.
Drugs prescriptions company Express Scripts received a pick-me-up from raised earnings guidance. The company lifted its profit forecast on the back of improved margins following the acquisition of Medco Health Solutions.
Moving lower on the day were fast food restaurant chain McDonald's, after like-for-like sales declined slightly, and online travel agent Priceline, which revealed that business in Europe had been hit by the recession on the continent.
Other markets
The September futures contract for a barrel of West Texas intermediate eased 32 cents to $93.35 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
US Treasuries declined after a lukewarm reception to a government auction of 10-year notes. Yields on 10-year notes rose to 1.65% from 1.63% the day before.
S&P 500 - Risers
Dean Foods Co. (DF) $17.46 +40.58%
Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) $29.53 +15.71%
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) $62.01 +9.71%
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) $4.40 +9.45%
Express Scripts Holding Co (ESRX) $60.73 +8.41%
Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN) $15.97 +8.12%
Sprint Nextel Corporation (S) $4.61 +6.96%
XL Group Plc (XL) $22.78 +6.60%
Humana Inc. (HUM) $67.64 +4.59%
NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) $20.24 +3.58%
S&P 500 - Fallers
Priceline.Com Inc. (PCLN) $562.32 -17.28%
Alpha Natural Res (ANR) $6.30 -8.70%
TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP) $36.77 -4.89%
Fossil Inc. (FOSL) $87.41 -4.75%
Expedia Inc. (EXPE) $56.14 -4.64%
Molex Inc. (MOLX) $25.90 -3.00%
Moody's Corp. (MCO) $39.83 -2.47%
Spectra Energy Corp. (SE) $29.01 -2.39%
Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) $81.60 -2.38%
Marriott International Inc. (MAR) $37.24 -2.31%
Dow Jones I.A - Risers
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) $19.41 +2.37%
Alcoa Inc. (AA) $8.80 +2.33%
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $50.49 +1.37%
Dow Jones I.A - Fallers
McDonald's Corp. (MCD) $87.53 -1.66%
United Technologies Corp. (UTX) $77.48 -0.82%
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $44.18 -0.65%
General Electric Co. (GE) $21.01 -0.52%
Nasdaq 100 - Risers
Express Scripts Holding Co (ESRX) $60.73 +8.41%
Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (SIRI) $2.47 +7.61%
Nuance Communications Inc. (NUAN) $23.18 +7.17%
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR) $24.62 +5.65%
Research in Motion Ltd. (RIMM) $7.62 +4.24%
Expeditors International Of Washington Inc. (EXPD) $36.42 +2.10%
Nasdaq 100 - Fallers
Priceline.Com Inc. (PCLN) $562.32 -17.28%
Warner Chilcott Plc (WCRX) $16.54 -6.92%
Fossil Inc. (FOSL) $87.41 -4.75%
Expedia Inc. (EXPE) $56.14 -4.64%
JH
