Markets Right Now: Apple, Amazon lead stocks slightly higher

NEW YORK – The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

11:45 a.m.

Stocks are moving broadly higher on Wall Street as several big technology companies including Apple post solid gains.

Apple rose 2.2 per cent Thursday, and Facebook rose 2 per cent.

Health care companies also did well. Johnson & Johnson climbed 1 per cent.

Bed Bath & Beyond plunged 23 per cent after reporting earnings that fell far short of analysts’ estimates. The company also slashed its outlook for the year.

Packaged food company Conagra fell 6.3 per cent after reporting weak results of its own.

The S&P 500 index added 17 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 2,923.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 146 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 26,536. The Nasdaq composite rose 73 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 8,063.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 3.07 per cent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are edging higher in early trading on Wall Street, led by gains in market favourites Apple and Amazon.

Apple rose 1.7 per cent in the first few minutes of trading Thursday and Amazon rose 1.1 per cent. Health care and energy companies were also higher.

Several companies fell after reporting disappointing results.

Bed Bath & Beyond plunged 20.8 per cent after reporting earnings that fell far short of analysts’ estimates. The company also slashed its outlook for the year.

Packaged food company Conagra fell 5.7 per cent after reporting weak results of its own.

The S&P 500 index added 3 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 2,909.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 7 points to 26,393. The Nasdaq composite rose 35 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 8,027.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held steady at 3.06 per cent.