Markets Right Now: Stocks end a choppy day slightly lower

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

4 p.m.

Stocks ended a choppy day slightly lower on Wall Street as losses for technology companies and banks offset gains elsewhere in the market.

Micron Technology fell 3.2 percent Thursday and Bank of America lost 1 percent.

The market moved lower ahead of a new round of trade talks between the U.S. and China. The countries have threatened tariffs on each other.

Energy stocks bucked the downward trend. Valero Energy climbed 4.1 percent.

Small-company stocks also rose. The Russell 2000 set another all-time high.

The S&P 500 fell 2 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,720.

The Dow Jones industrial average declined 54 points, or 0.2 percent, to 24,713. The Nasdaq fell 15 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,382.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 3.11 percent.

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11:45 a.m.

Stocks shook off an early stumble and were mostly higher in midday trading, led by gains in energy and industrial companies.

Energy stocks were rising along with the price of crude oil. Valero Energy climbed 5 percent and EOG Resources added 2.9 percent.

Dillard's jumped 6.8 percent after the department store chain's latest results beat Wall Street's expectations.

The S&P 500 index rose 3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,726.

The Dow Jones industrial average is little changed at 24,764. The Nasdaq composite rose 9 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,407.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged up to 3.11 percent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are slightly lower in morning trading as losses for Cisco Systems weigh on technology companies.

Cisco, which sells routers, switches and software, lost 3.9 percent Thursday morning after releasing its latest quarterly results.

Walmart edged up 0.5 percent after its first-quarter profit and revenue surpassed analyst estimates.

Wells Fargo fell 1.2 percent after the Wall Street Journal reported that some employees in its business banking division improperly altered information on documents related to corporate customers.

The S&P 500 index lost 3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,718.

The Dow Jones industrial average shed 47 points, or 0.2 percent, to 24,721. The Nasdaq composite dipped 10 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,388.