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GM approves $6 billion share buyback plan
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Investors await CPI data on Wednesday
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Indexes: Dow down 0.3%, S&P 500 up 0.2%, Nasdaq up 0.7%
(Updates to 2:40 p.m. EDT)
By Caroline Valetkevitch
NEW YORK, June 11 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq
were higher in afternoon trading on Tuesday, helped by gains in
shares of Apple ( AAPL ), while investors also awaited consumer
prices data and a policy announcement from the Federal Reserve.
Apple ( AAPL ) shares were up 6.4% and hit a record high after
declining in the previous session.
At its annual developer event that kicked off on Monday,
Apple ( AAPL ) unveiled new artificial-intelligence features meant to
increase the appeal of its devices, including an improved Siri
virtual assistant that can answer a wider range of queries and
accomplish more complicated tasks than earlier.
The S&P 500 technology index was up 1.3% and hit
an all-time high.
The Consumer Price Index report will be released on
Wednesday, and the U.S. central bank's policy announcement also
is due on Wednesday.
The central bank is likely to leave interest rates unchanged
but will release its updated economic projections and "dot
plot," which shows where policymakers expect interest rates to
stand this year and longer-term.
"Everybody is feeling uneasy, but the data and actions
consumers are taking continue to point toward resiliency, and
that tends to be overall fairly bullish," said Oliver Pursche,
senior vice president and adviser for Wealthspire Advisors in
Westport, Connecticut.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 125.67 points,
or 0.32%, to 38,742.37, the S&P 500 gained 8.68 points,
or 0.16%, to 5,369.47 and the Nasdaq Composite added
119.16 points, or 0.69%, to 17,311.69.
Friday's U.S. monthly jobs report was stronger than
expected. Markets have dialed back expectations for the Fed's
first rate cut happening in September, now pricing in about a
50% chance, according to the CME's FedWatch tool.
General Motors ( GM ) gained 1.7% after the automaker
announced a $6 billion share buyback plan.
Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a
1.66-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.26-to-1 ratio favored decliners.
The S&P 500 posted 18 new 52-week highs and 4 new lows; the
Nasdaq Composite recorded 36 new highs and 116 new lows.