The S&P 500 moved slightly lower Thursday as traders fretted over a continued rise in interest rates.
The Dow Jones Industrials strode forward 81.45 points to reach noon at 32,743.29, or 0.3% as Salesforce shares popped on a strong quarter and forward guidance.
The much-broader S&P 500 remained negative 8.33 points to 3,943.06.
The NASDAQ Composite crumbled 59.19 points to 11,320.29.
All of the major averages are on pace for a losing week.
In corporate earnings, Salesforce and Okta shares jumped in overnight trading on strong results and guidance. Silvergate Capital, meanwhile, shares plunged more than 40%, after the company delayed its 10-K annual report.
Tesla shares, popular with retail investors, lost 5% after the company failed to unveil details of any next-generation vehicles during its much-anticipated investor day Wednesday. The decline put pressure on the S&P and NASDAQ.
A surge in labour costs and a pullback in jobless claims reported early Thursday point to the likelihood that the Fed will raise its benchmark interest rate another 0.25 percentage point later this month.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury slipped, raising yields to 4.09% from Wednesday's 4%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices took on 26 cents to $77.95 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices unloaded $3.30 to $1,842.10 U.S. an ounce.