Key Takeaways Major U.S. indexes were little changed at midday Thursday after Wednesday's big gains powered by strong bank earnings and a softer-than-expected inflation report.Morgan Stanley shares gained after the financial firm topped earnings and revenue estimates.

U.S. stock indexes drifted lower following a mixed set of earnings reports from Morgan Stanley, UnitedHealth Group and other big companies

But high medical costs contributed to results that disappointed Wall Street, and the company’s stock fell on the news that it had made less than analysts expected.

Erin Wright, an analyst from Morgan Stanley, maintained the Buy rating on UnitedHealth (UNH – Research Report). The associated price target

The selloff in the healthcare giant's stock would shave more than 150 points off the Dow's price Shares of UnitedHealth Group ... the outside looking in," Morgan Stanley analyst Erin Wright ...

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Thursday following a mixed set of earnings reports from Morgan Stanley, UnitedHealth Group and other big companies. The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% ...

Shares are mostly lower in Asia after China reported that its economy grew at a 5% annual pace last year, hitting the government's target but slowing from the year before.

The stock market rebounded to or above key levels on tame inflation data and strong bank earnings. Many stocks flashed buy signals.

NEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Thursday following a mixed set of earnings reports from Morgan Stanley, UnitedHealth Group and other big companies.

The selloff in UnitedHealth's stock can be blamed for Dow futures falling, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures are rising. The health giant's stock was sinking 3.2% in recent premarket trading, after

The relatively modest moves for stocks came a day after they shot higher on hopes that an encouraging report on inflation may convince the Federal Reserve to deliver more cuts to interest rates this year. Treasury yields were also more placid in the bond market following mixed economic reports on Thursday..

Mining giants Rio Tinto Ltd (LSE:RIO, ASX:RIO, OTC:RTNTF) and Glencore PLC (LSE:GLEN) have reportedly engaged in preliminary discussions about a potential merger, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.