The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) was up a modest 0.3% by 11:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, outperforming the other major stock indices. Weighing on the market was a decision by the U.S. to force the closure of a Chinese consulate in Houston that prompted a retaliation threat from China, escalating tensions between the two countries.
Shares of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) pushed higher on Wednesday, helping to drive the Dow's gain. Microsoft stock was up despite rival Slack filing an antitrust complaint in the EU, and IBM stock surged following an analyst upgrade.
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