NEW YORK—Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. was the top midday gainer among Dow Jones industrial average stocks Friday as the index edged higher.
At about 12:15 p.m. EDT, the Dow rose 24.92 points to 12,034.92, as 18 of its 30 stocks were in positive territory. Data showing greater factory orders in March and fewer job cuts in April lifted the market early in the session, but those gains were fading at midday.
Shares of Alcoa picked up $1.62, or 4.7 percent, to $36.34.
Citigroup Inc. added 77 cents, or 3 percent, to $26.76.
Specialty chemicals maker DuPont & Co. edged up 92 cents to $49.86.
On the losing side, shares of retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. slipped 71 cents to $57.36.
Diversified financial company JPMorgan Chase & Co. lost 59 cents to $48.66.
Shares of International Business Machines Corp. shed 64 cents to $122.97.
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