US Stocks See Mixed Finish

Stocks drifted to a mostly lower close on Wall Street as trading calmed down following a turbulent few days earlier this week, the AP reports. Small-company stocks fell broadly Thursday, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average of big-name companies managed a small gain thanks to increases in a few of its components including McDonald's and Procter & Gamble. Banks fell. Wells Fargo lost 1.4%. The S&P 500 index slipped less than 1 point to 2,650. The Dow rose 70 points, or 0.3%, to 24,597. The Nasdaq composite fell 27 points, or 0.4%, to 7,070. More stocks fell than rose on the New York Stock Exchange. (Read more stock market stories.)