The S&P 500 was up 0.2% in midday trading to 2,142.52.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.2% to 18,153.69.
The NASDAQ was down 0.1% to 5,240.37.
The yield on a 10-year Treasury bond fell 0.8% to 1.69%.
The price of gold rose 0.6% to $1,317.
REAL ESTATE
Orange County home builders were up on an increase in the National Association of Home Builders housing-market index. The survey, which measures confidence among companies that build new homes, rose to 65 in September, from 59 in August. A number over 50 indicates more builders view the market positively.
Irvine-based CalAtlantic Group Inc. was up 2.2% to $34.09 and a $3.9 billion market cap. Irvine-based Tri Pointe Group Inc. was up 2% to $12.61 and a $2 billion market cap. Newport Beach-based William Lyon Homes was up 1.3% to $15.93 and a $500 million market cap. Aliso Viejo-based New Home Co. Inc. was up 2.2% to $10.03 and a $209 million market cap.
