U.S. stocks are mostly lower at midday

9/2/2014

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks are mostly lower at midday as energy stocks weigh on the market and investors wait to see what actions central banks take later this week.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 44 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,053 as of 11:53 a.m. today. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index eased four points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,998. The Nasdaq bucked the trend, rising four points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,584.

Eight of the 10 sectors in the S&P 500 index fell, with energy stocks down the most.

Investors are looking ahead to central bank meetings this week in Europe and Japan, and waiting for key U.S. employment figures Friday.