U.S. stocks on Friday opened mixed as the latest read on growth pointed to an economy that continues to improve, albeit slowly, while also underscoring the belief that the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates in December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 29 points, or 0.2%, at 18,200, the S&P 500 index slid 3 points, or 0.1%, at 2,130, while the Nasdaq Composite Index traded 20 points, or 0.4%, lower at 5,196. For the week, the Dow was on track to gain 0.3%, but the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were on track to register losses of 0.6% and 1.3%, respectively. The moves for stocks come amid a steady selloff in government bond yields, with yields on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note at 1.86%. Bond prices move inversely to yields. In corporate news, a few oil-and-gas producers reported quarterly earnings, with Chevron Corp. returning to profitability, while profit and revenue slid for Dow component Exxon Mobil Corp. . Meanwhile, General Electric was in talks to merge its oil-and-gas business with Baker Hughes , The Wall Street Journal reported.
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