U.S. stocks open mixed ahead of Yellen speech
Xinhua, January 18, 2017 Adjust font size:
U.S. stocks opened mixed Wednesday, as investors awaited an afternoon speech from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.
Investors are watching closely on the speech from Yellen about the goals of monetary policy, for more clues on the pattern of the Fed's rate hikes. Ahead of that, the Fed will release its Beige Book early in the afternoon.
On the economic front, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers increased 0.3 percent in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, in line with market consensus, the U.S. Labor Department reported Wednesday.
Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 2.1 percent before seasonal adjustment.
Meanwhile, U.S. industrial production rose 0.8 percent in December after falling 0.7 percent in November, the Fed said Wednesday.
Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 32points, or 0.16 percent, to 19,794.77. The S&P 500 rose 1.04 points, or 0.05 percent, to 2,268.93. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 6.87 points, or 0.12 percent, to 5,545.6.
On Tuesday, the U.S. stocks ended lower after wavering in a tight range, as Wall Street pondered over comments from British Prime Minister Theresa May on Brexit. Endi