01:26 PM EDT, 09/05/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Consumer stocks were mixed Thursday afternoon, with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) decreasing 0.5% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) rising 0.7%.

In corporate news, Verizon Communications ( VZ ) agreed to buy Frontier Communications (FYBR) in an all-cash deal worth about $20 billion to boost its fiber network. Verizon shares were down 0.5%, and Frontier was falling 9%.