NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in global financial markets (all times local):

4:00 p.m.

U.S. stocks closed mixed Thursday after two straight days of gains. Chemical makers and banks slid while utilities and phone companies gained.

Monsanto fell nearly 2 percent and Dow Chemical fell 1.7 percent. The chemical sector had gotten a boost earlier in the week on news of a potential sale of Monsanto to Germany's Bayer.

Discount retailer Dollar Tree rose 13 percent after it raised its forecasts for the year.

The Dow Jones industrial average slid 23 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,828. The Standard and Poor's 500 index was unchanged at 2,090. The Nasdaq composite rose 7 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,902.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note dipped to 1.83 percent from 1.87 percent.

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11:50 a.m.

U.S. stocks are trading sideways Thursday after two straight days of gains. Chemical makers are down while utilities and phone companies are rising.

Monsanto fell 1 percent and Dow Chemical fell 0.8 percent. The chemical sector had gotten a boost earlier in the week on news of a potential sale of Monsanto to Germany's Bayer.

The Dow Jones industrial average slid 28 points , or 0.2 percent, to 17,825. The Standard and Poor's 500 index was unchanged at 2,090. The Nasdaq composite was also unchanged at 4,894.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note dipped to 1.84 percent from 1.87 percent.