Following the market opening Thursday, the Dow traded up 0.23 percent to 17,018.55 while the NASDAQ dropped 0.20 percent to 4,517.31. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.10 percent to 1,988.55.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Thursday morning, the non-cyclical consumer goods & services sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Hormel Foods (NYSE: HRL) and Pepsico (NYSE: PEP).

In trading on Thursday, basic materials shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.64 percent. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included Noranda Aluminum Holding (NYSE: NOR), down 5.6 percent, and Coeur Mining (NYSE: CDE), off 4.9 percent.

Top Headline

Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter profit. However, the company reported upbeat sales for the quarter.

The Chesapeake, Virginia-based company posted a quarterly net profit of $121.5 million, or $0.59 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $124.7 million, or $0.56 per share. Excluding acquisition-related costs, its adjusted earnings per share rose 8.9% to $0.61.

Its sales increased to $2.03 billion from $1.854 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.64 per share on revenue of $2.01 billion. Dollar Tree’s comparable store sales rose 4.5% on a constant currency basis in the quarter.

Equities Trading UP

The Children's Place (NASDAQ: PLCE) shares shot up 4.44 percent to $52.69 after the company reported a narrower-than-expected second-quarter loss.

Shares of Hormel Foods (NYSE: HRL) got a boost, shooting up 4.91 percent to $50.21 after the company reported better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter profit.

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AUXL) shares were also up, gaining 6.08 percent to $18.85 after the company announced positive data for Phase 2a CCH study.

Equities Trading DOWN

Shares of Stage Stores (NYSE: SSI) were down 5.95 percent to $17.40 after the company reported downbeat Q2 results and lowered its FY15 forecast.

Cyberonics (NASDAQ: CYBX) shares tumbled 6.54 percent to $58.00 on downbeat quarterly results.

Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) was down, falling 6.93 percent to $33.46 after the company posted a wider loss for the second quarter.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded up 2.03 percent to $96.40, while gold traded down 1.44 percent to $1,276.50.

Silver traded down 0.73 percent Thursday to $19.43, while copper fell 0.44 percent to $3.18.

Euro zone

European shares were higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 climbed 0.46 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.98 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index jumped 1.57 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX climbed 0.51 percent and the French CAC 40 surged 0.83 percent while UK shares gained 0.20 percent.

Economics

US initial jobless claims declined by 14,000 to 298,000 in the week ended August 16. However, economists were projecting claims to reach 303,000 in the week.

The preliminary reading of Markit manufacturing PMI surged to 58 in August, versus 55.8 in July.

The general conditions index of the Philadelphia Fed's Survey rose to 28 in August, versus 23.9 in July. However, economists were projecting a reading of 18.

The Conference Board's index of leading indicators climbed 0.9% in July.
Sales of existing homes climbed 2.4% to an annual rate of 5.15 million in July. However, economists were estimating sales rate to fall to 5 million.
The Treasury is set to auction 3-month and 6-month bills. The Treasury will also auction 2-year, 5-year and 7-year notes.
Data on money supply will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET.