12:33 PM EDT, 10/02/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Wall Street's major market averages were slightly higher on Wednesday amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, and after the release of US private payroll numbers.

ADP's monthly measure of private payrolls showed a 143,000 increase in September, above expectations for a 125,000 increase compiled by Bloomberg. The September gain followed an upwardly revised 103,000 jobs increase in August.

Mortgage applications dropped by 1.3% in the week ended Sept. 27 due to a slight uptick in mortgage rates, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data. This follows an 11% increase in overall activity in the previous week.

Nike ( NKE ) shares slipped almost 6% in recent trading, a day after the company reported lower fiscal Q1 earnings and revenue and withdrew full-year guidance. The company reported fiscal Q1 earnings of $0.70 per diluted share, down from $0.94 a year earlier. Revenue fell to $11.59 billion from $12.94 billion a year earlier.

Tesla (TSLA) shares slid 3% in recent trading after reporting 469,796 vehicles produced during Q3, with customers taking delivery of 462,890 units. The company's Model 3/Y comprised the bulk of its Q3 production and deliveries at 443,668 and 439,975, respectively. Analysts polled by Visible Alpha expected deliveries at 432,400 for Model 3/Y vehicles during the quarter, up 3.2% over year-ago levels.

Ford Motor ( F ) shares were down over 2% in recent trading after it reported a 0.7% increase in Q3 US sales year over year at 504,039 vehicles. The automaker saw increases for both electric and hybrid vehicles, rising 12.2% and 38% year over year, respectively. Those cars and trucks, however, comprised only 14.2% of Q3 sales. The company sold 432,429 gas-powered vehicles during the quarter, down 2.8% from last year.

Stellantis' ( STLA ) FCA US reported Q3 total sales of 305,294 vehicles, down 20% from a year earlier. Sales dropped for five of the six brands, with Chrysler sales slumping 47%, Dodge falling 43%, Jeep declining 6%, Ram down 19%, and Alfa Romeo sales 29% lower. Stellantis ( STLA ) shares were down 0.4%.

Humana (HUM) shares tumbled almost 18% intraday, after it disclosed in a regulatory filing that the number of members enrolled for 2025 in its Medicare Advantage Plans rated four stars or higher fell to 25%, or 1.6 million, from 94% in 2024. The company said a driver of these results was one of its contracts with 45% of its Medicare Advantage members decreasing to a 3.5-star rating from a 4.5 star rating. The company said its 2025 stars results are not expected to impact the company's financial results or outlook for 2024 or 2025. It is attempting to challenge some of the numbers that led to the decline, the company added.

Price: 84.00, Change: -5.13, Percent Change: -5.76