US stocks turned higher at midday on Friday amid a choppy trading session as investors' mood fluctuated between excitement about proposed energy sector deals worth $22 billion and worries about rising interest rates ahead of the Fed's meeting next week.
Anadarko Petroleum Corp said it agreed to acquire Kerr-McGee Corp and Western Gas Resources Inc in separate cash deals totalling $21.1 billion. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 37.79 points, or 0.34 percent, at 11,056.90. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 6.15 points, or 0.49 percent, at 1,251.75. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 12.60 points, or 0.59 percent, at 2,135.58.