U.S. stock indexes edged mostly higher in early trading Friday as rising oil prices pushed energy companies higher. Technology companies were the biggest laggards as Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet declined on disappointing earnings. Investors pored through the latest batch of earnings from big companies, including McDonald’s, American Airlines Group and General Electric.
KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average rose 23 points, or 0.1 percent, to 18,006 as of 10:06 a.m. Eastern time. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index added one point, or 0.1 percent, to 2,092. The Nasdaq composite index lost 30 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,915.
ENERGY SECTOR: Oil and gas companies benefited from a pickup in energy prices. Southwestern Energy vaulted $1.65, or 15.5 percent, to $12.32. Murphy Oil climbed $1.31, or 4.1 percent, to $32.94.
GAINING STEAM: Norfolk Southern jumped 8.5 percent after the railroad operator slashed costs during its latest quarter. The stock rose $7.01 to $89.64.
TECH SLUMP: Several technology companies were down after reporting disappointing quarterly results. Microsoft lost $4, or 7.2 percent, to $51.78. Alphabet fell $38, or about 5 percent, to $742.