NEW YORK, Oct 11: Stocks ended flat on Friday as many traders took the day off, and those who were at work sifted through the first few quarterly earnings scorecards for fresh clues to corporate America’s health while looking ahead to next week’s full flood of company reports.

General Electric weighed on the blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average after the conglomerate posted third-quarter earnings in line with analysts’ estimates but cut its fourth-quarter earnings guidance, blaming weak demand for gas turbines and higher costs at its plastics division.

The Dow dipped 5.33 points, or 0.06 per cent, to 9,674.68, according to the latest data. The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was off 0.67 points, or 0.06 per cent, at 1,038.06 while the technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index rose 3.41 points, or 0.18 per cent, at 1,915.31.

For the week, the Dow rose 1.07 per cent, while the S&P 500 rose 0.8 per cent and the Nasdaq rose 1.85 per cent. The Dow was higher for the eight time in the last 10. The Nasdaq and S&P were up seven of the past nine weeks.

Nobody’s around, said Sean Martin, head trader at A. Gary Shilling & Co. We’ve had a nice run and people are taking a breather. You’re probably seeing one of the quietest days we’ve had in months.

Market activity was muted during Friday’s session as many traders took the day off ahead of the Columbus Day holiday on Monday, when the bond market will be closed.

Volume was moderate as 1.11 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange and 1.46 billion changed hands on the Nasdaq. Advancers outnumbered decliners by about 6 to 5 on the NYSE but decliners outnumbered gainers 17 to 15 on the Nasdaq.

The stock market will be open for a regular session on Monday and was open for a full session on Friday, while the bond market closed at 2 p.m. (1800 GMT).

Semiconductor stocks rose after Deutsche Bank Securities raised its ratings on Texas Instruments and Intel Corp.

Intel rose 66 cents to $30.43, or 2.2 per cent, while Texas Instruments gained 49 cents, or 2 per cent, to $25.48. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange’s semiconductor index rose 1.17 per cent.

Computer Associates International took a hit after Moody’s Investors Service on Thursday said it cut the software vendor’s short- and long-term debt ratings, citing a lack of clarity in the company’s recognition of revenue. Its shares fell $2.45, or 9.4 per cent, to $23.50.

Network gear maker Juniper Networks Inc. slipped despite reporting unexpectedly strong results on improved spending by telecommunications carriers. Its shares fell 78 cents, or 4.2 per cent, to $17.62.—Reuters