Stocks are turning in a lackluster performance in early trading on Friday after moving sharply higher over the course of the previous session. The major averages have been bouncing back and forth across the unchanged line.
The major averages are currently turning in a mixed performance. While the Nasdaq is down 1.50 points or less than a tenth of a percent at 3,443.87, the Dow is up 11.93 points or 0.1 percent at 15,188.01 and the S&P 500 is up 2.52 points or 0.2 percent at 1,638.88.
The choppy trading on Wall Street comes as traders digest the latest batch of U.S. economic data, including a report from the Federal Reserve showing that industrial production unexpectedly came in unchanged in May.
The Fed said industrial production came in flat in May following a revised 0.4 percent decrease in April. Economists had expected production to rise by 0.2 percent.
Rob Carnell, chief international economist at ING, said, "The headline production figure would have been better but for another drag from utilities, and we expect some bounce from this sector in the coming months."
"Nonetheless, this was not a great figure, and reinforces our sense that the run of data in the U.S., though stronger than might have been expected some months ago, is rather mixed," he added.
The Labor Department also reported a bigger than expected increase in producer prices in May, while Reuters and the University of Michigan released a report showing an unexpected drop in consumer sentiment in June.
While most of the major sectors are showing only modest moves, some strength has emerged among railroad, commercial real estate, and housing stocks.
On the other hand, notable weakness is visible among biotechnology stocks, with Myriad Genetics (MYGN) leading the way lower after yesterday's Supreme Court ruling.
In overseas trading, stock markets across the Asia-Pacific region moved mostly higher during trading on Friday. Japan's Nikkei 225 Index surged up by 1.9 percent following yesterday's sell-off, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose by 0.4 percent.
The major European markets have also moved to the upside on the day. While the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index has advanced by 0.4 percent, the French CAC 40 Index and the German DAX Index are up by 0.7 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively.
In the bond market, treasuries are seeing considerable strength, extending yesterday's upward move. Subsequently, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, is down by 7 basis points at 2.104 percent.
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Business News
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.