Investing.com - U.S. stock prices finished mixed to lower on Wednesday after investors took a largely quiet afternoon to sell for profits in light that the S&P 500 hit levels not seen since 2007 earlier in the session.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.26%, the S&P 500 index ended up 0.06%, while the Nasdaq Composite index rose 0.33%.
Decent economic indicators released earlier sent stocks climbing to levels ripe for profit taking.
In the eurozone, industrial production rose 0.7% in December, beating expectations for a 0.2% increase and well above November's 0.7% contraction.
Industrial production in Germany, Europe's largest economy, rose 0.8% in December after falling for four previous consecutive months, which boosted spirits as well.
Meanwhile in the U.S., retail sales rose 0.1% in January, in line with expectations though off from a 0.5% gain in December, according to the Commerce Department.
Payroll tax increases took effect, which likely lowered demand for goods.
Nevertheless, core retail sales, which exclude automobile sales, increased by 0.2%, beating expectations for a 0.1% gain.
Also in the U.S., wholesale business inventories rose by 0.1% in December, missing expectations for a 0.3% increase, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Business inventories in November were revised to a 0.2% gain from a previously reported advance of 0.3%.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included General Electric, up 3.68%, Procter & Gamble, up 0.78%, and Alcoa, up 0.76%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Boeing, down 1.59%, McDonald's, down 1.15%, and Coca-Cola, down 0.96%.
European indices, meanwhile, finished higher.
After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.30%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.32%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished up 0.67%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished up 0.33%.
On Thursday, the U.S. is to release the weekly government report on initial jobless claims.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.26%, the S&P 500 index ended up 0.06%, while the Nasdaq Composite index rose 0.33%.
Decent economic indicators released earlier sent stocks climbing to levels ripe for profit taking.
In the eurozone, industrial production rose 0.7% in December, beating expectations for a 0.2% increase and well above November's 0.7% contraction.
Industrial production in Germany, Europe's largest economy, rose 0.8% in December after falling for four previous consecutive months, which boosted spirits as well.
Meanwhile in the U.S., retail sales rose 0.1% in January, in line with expectations though off from a 0.5% gain in December, according to the Commerce Department.
Payroll tax increases took effect, which likely lowered demand for goods.
Nevertheless, core retail sales, which exclude automobile sales, increased by 0.2%, beating expectations for a 0.1% gain.
Also in the U.S., wholesale business inventories rose by 0.1% in December, missing expectations for a 0.3% increase, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Business inventories in November were revised to a 0.2% gain from a previously reported advance of 0.3%.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included General Electric, up 3.68%, Procter & Gamble, up 0.78%, and Alcoa, up 0.76%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Boeing, down 1.59%, McDonald's, down 1.15%, and Coca-Cola, down 0.96%.
European indices, meanwhile, finished higher.
After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.30%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.32%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished up 0.67%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished up 0.33%.
On Thursday, the U.S. is to release the weekly government report on initial jobless claims.