02:37 PM EDT, 03/28/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes were mixed intraday, as investors evaluated a surprise upward revision to fourth-quarter economic growth, along with other macro data.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were up 0.1% each at 39,778.2 and 5,252.3, respectively, after midday Thursday. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1% to 16,384. Among sectors, communication services and technology paced the decliners, while energy led the gainers.

Stock markets will be closed Friday in observance of the Good Friday holiday.

In economic news, US real gross domestic product in the December quarter increased at a 3.4% annualized rate, up from a 3.2% gain projected previously, according to a third and final estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Activity was expected to be unrevised, according to the consensus compiled by Bloomberg. In the third quarter, real GDP rose 4.9%.

"There is plenty to like in the upward revision to (fourth-quarter) US real GDP growth as stronger consumer spending and slower inventory build pave the way more favorably for growth early this year," Oxford Economics said in a note.

The US two-year yield rose 5.8 basis points to 4.63% intraday, while the 10-year rate added one basis point to 4.2%.

US consumer sentiment increased in March, while inflation expectations edged lower, according to the University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers. Sentiment was essentially unchanged throughout the first quarter, reflecting consumers' perception that the economy has been "holding steady in its current state," Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu said.

Pending home sales in the US rose more than projected in February, aided by a sharp gain in the Midwest, the National Association of Realtors said.

"While modest sales growth might not stir excitement, it shows slow and steady progress from the lows of late last year," NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. "Ongoing job gains are clearly increasing demand, along with more inventory."

Manufacturing activity in the US Midwest region slumped further into contraction territory in March amid steep declines in new orders and production, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil increased 2.1% to $83.02 per barrel intraday.

In company news, Carnival (CCL, CUK) shares fell 3.8%, the steepest decline on the S&P 500. The cruise operator said Wednesday it expects a hit of up to $10 million to its full-year profit from this week's collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. The company posted better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results buoyed by robust demand.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) was the top performer on the Nasdaq and the second-best on the S&P 500 intraday Thursday, up 3.6%. The drug-store operator posted stronger-than-expected fiscal second-quarter revenue but lowered the high end of its full-year earnings outlook.

Gold was up 1.3% at $2,242.50 per troy ounce, and silver rose 0.9% to $24.98 per ounce.