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

4 p.m.

Stocks drifted to a mostly lower close on Wall Street as trading calmed down following a turbulent few days earlier this week.

Small-company stocks fell broadly Thursday, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average of big-name companies managed a small gain thanks to increases in a few of its components including McDonald’s and Procter & Gamble.

Banks fell. Wells Fargo lost 1.4 per cent.

The S&P 500 index slipped less than 1 point to 2,650.

The Dow rose 70 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 24,597. The Nasdaq composite fell 27 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 7,070.

More stocks fell than rose on the New York Stock Exchange.

The price of crude oil turned higher.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.91 per cent.

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11:45 a.m.

Stocks are mixed in midday trading on Wall Street as by gains in technology companies were offset by declines elsewhere.

Apple rose 1.7 per cent Thursday and Procter & Gamble rose 2.6 per cent.

Banks were broadly lower. Wells Fargo lost 1 per cent.

General Electric jumped 9.7 per cent after JPMorgan removed the struggling company from a list of stocks it was concerned about. GE got kicked out of the Dow Jones Industrial Average earlier this year.

The S&P 500 index rose 4 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 2,659.

The Dow rose 157 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 24,683. The Nasdaq composite fell 9 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 7,102.

Small-company stocks fell.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.91 per cent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are off to a solid start on Wall Street as health care and industrial companies rise.

Pfizer added 1.5 per cent in early trading Thursday and General Electric jumped 10.3 per cent after JPMorgan said it removed it from a list of stocks it was concerned about.

Aflac rose 6 per cent after confirming that Japan Post Holdings was interested in taking a stake in the company.

The S&P 500 index gained 16 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 2,667.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 140 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 24,666. The Nasdaq rose 48 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 7,146.

Oil prices fell and bond yields held steady.