Mar. 18, 2010 (United Press International) -- U.S. markets were mixed Thursday, as investors checked their positions after seven consecutive trading sessions that posted gains.
Two government reports showed signs of economic stability Thursday. The Labor Department said first-time jobless claims dropped for the third consecutive week. A Department of Commerce report said consumer prices were flat in February with core prices, which exclude energy and food items, up only 0.1 percent.
In early afternoon trading, the Dow Jones industrial average added 28.34 points, 0.26 percent, to 10,762.01. The Standard & Poor's 500 index dropped 0.22 percent, 2.51 points, to 1,163.70. The Nasdaq composite index added 0.27 points, 0.01 percent, to 2,389.36.
Early gains at Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F PRS) (NYSE:F PRA) (NYSE:F) slowed to 0.49 percent. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) , up early, fell 1.5 percent.
The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell 7/32 to yield 3.668 percent.
The euro fell to $1.3623 compared to Wednesday's $1.3741. Against the yen, the dollar fell to 90.20 yen compared with Wednesday's 90.27 yen.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index lost 102.95 points, 0.95 percent, to 10,744.03.
In Britain, the FTSE 100 index lost 0.04 percent, 2.01, to 5,642.62.
