NEW YORK — Stocks are mostly higher in midday trading as companies report strong earnings but give mixed forecasts for the future.
The Dow Jones industrial average is up 28 points, or 0.3 percent, to 11,435 at 11:45 a.m. in New York. The S&P 500 is up 3, or 0.3 percent, to 1,196. The Nasdaq is down 12, or 0.5 percent, to 2,511.
Target, Staples and Dell all reported earnings that were above analysts’ forecasts. Companies in the S&P 500 are on track to report higher profits for a ninth straight quarter. But global economic growth is weak, and some economists worry about a possible second recession.
Target and Staples both gave profit forecasts that were above Wall Street’s expectations, but Dell cut its prediction for revenue growth this year.
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