North American stocks were mixed heading into midday action on Thursday, with gold producers dragging down the S&P/TSX composite index.
At noon, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 65 points or 0.6 per cent, to 10,452. The broader S&P 500 was up 9 points or 0.9 per cent, to 1108.
All 10 subindexes within the S&P 500 were up, suggesting broad-based gains. Financials led the way, rising 1.7 per cent. The other top movers were defensives: Health care stocks and telecom services rose 1.2 per cent each.
Consumer stocks lagged, though. Staples rose 0.4 per cent and consumer discretionary stocks rose 0.6 per cent.
In Canada, the S&P/TSX composite index was down 10 points or 0.1 per cent, to 12,033.
Materials were the biggest drags, falling 2 per cent after the price of gold retreated by about $12 (U.S.) an ounce, to $1245. Consumer staples fell 0.8 per cent and industrials fell 0.6 per cent.
However, information technology stocks rose 1.5 per cent, financials rose 0.9 per cent and energy stocks rose 0.4 per cent.