Stocks Eke Out Gains On Earnings; Nasdaq Falls

U.S. stocks closed out a choppy session Wednesday with small gains for blue-chips and the S&P 500 and a minor loss for the Nasdaq Composite .

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 7.22 points, or 0.1%, at 13,986.52, led by a 1.2% gain in 3M Co. shares.

The S&P 500 rose 0.83 point, or 0.1%, to 1,512.12. The Nasdaq Composite fell 3.1 points, or 0.1%, to 3,168.48. Earnings from Ralph Lauren Corp. , Time Warner Inc. and Wyndham Worldwide Corp. supported stock-buying sentiment, somewhat offset by profit-taking after stocks’ 6% rise this year.

Marketwatch