Stocks Open Mostly Lower As Weak Earnings Weigh

Stocks opened mostly lower on Friday, but remained on track for a second-straight weekly gain, after a series of disappointing earnings reports offset a rise in crude oil prices. The S&P 500 shed 5 points, or 0.2%, to 2,087. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 13 points, or 0.1%, to 17,994 as General Electric Co. , Caterpillar Inc. and Microsoft Corp. constrained gains after reporting quarterly results. However, a stronger-than-expected report from McDonald's Inc. was helping to support the Dow. The Nasdaq Composite fell 40 points, or 0.8%, to 4,905.