US blue chip stocks edged lower on Wednesday, while the tech-driven Nasdaq rose slightly as investors' concerns about attacks on Iraq's oil pipelines offset economic reports that reinforced the view the economy is stronger.
Energy stocks, led by Exxon Mobil Corp, supported blue chips, as oil prices rose earlier in the day after attacks choked Iraq's ability to export oil. The Standard & Poor's Energy Index jumped 1.7 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 6 points, or 0.05 percent, to 10,375, while the Standard & Poor's 500 Index ticked up 1 point, or 0.10 percent, to 1,133, and the Nasdaq Composite Index crept up 1 point, or 0.07 percent, to 1,997.