US stocks edged up on Thursday as acquisition deals and oil's decline from a record $68 helped offset the impact of several corporate downgrades. The blue chip Dow gained from Johnson & Johnson's announcement that it expects a decision in October on whether the US Federal Trade Commission will approve its planned acquisition of Guidant Corp.
Johnson & Johnson shares rose 0.6 percent to $62.65 on the New York Stock Exchange.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 0.80 point, or 0.01 percent, at 10,435.75. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 0.81 point, or 0.07 percent, at 1,210.40. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index was up 3.05 points, or 0.14 percent, at 2,131.96.