Markets Right Now: US stock indexes eke out modest gains

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

4:00 p.m.

Major U.S. stock indexes managed to post tiny gains in a quiet day of pre-holiday trading.

Health care stocks rose more than the rest of the market Friday, while retailers and energy companies fell.

Cintas, which supplies companies with uniforms, fell 3 per cent after reporting results that fell short of analysts’ forecasts.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 14 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 19,933.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index gained 2 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 2,263. The Nasdaq composite climbed 15 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 5,462.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.54 per cent.

Markets will be closed Monday in observance of Christmas.

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11:45 a.m.

Stock indexes are edging lower in midday trading on Wall Street as trading slows down ahead of the Christmas holiday.

Retailers and technology were lower Friday, while health care stocks rose.

Cintas, which supplies companies with uniforms, fell 4 per cent after reporting results that fell short of analysts’ forecasts.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 11 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 19,908.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index was unchanged at 2,260. The Nasdaq composite fell a fraction to 5,447.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.54 per cent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are little changed in early trading on Wall Street as trading slows down ahead of the Christmas holiday.

Energy and materials companies fell shortly after the opening bell Friday, while health care and real estate stocks rose.

Cintas, which supplies companies with uniforms, fell 4 per cent after reporting results that fell short of analysts’ forecasts.

The Dow Jones industrial average was flat at 19,918.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index was unchanged at 2,260. The Nasdaq composite fell a fraction to 5,447.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.53 per cent.

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