U.S. stocks closed narrowly mixed on Thursday as investors digested more earnings and second-quarter GDP, a day after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged.
“I think there’s a lot of confusion really. The focus was trying to understand what’s going on with economic growth and the Fed,” said David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Funds. “People aren’t quite sure whether the data makes it more likely or less likely that they will tighten.”
After the second-quarter gross domestic product report came in slightly below expectations, traders will watch Friday’s employment cost index for another indicator on the labor market and inflation.
Read MoreThis one word could hold key for Fed’s rate move
“That should shed light on most important data points that the Fed (is watching),” said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial. “The ECI in this environment is one of the most important pieces. It’s been slow. It’s been grudgingly moving higher.”
The Nasdaq Composite closed a third of a percent higher, with the S&P 500 ending flat.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed about 5 points lower, failing to hold mild gains. The index fell 100 points in the open as Proctor & Gamble shares declined after reported earnings that beat expectations on revenue that missed slightly. The company said organic sales in the current fiscal year will be down slightly to up single digits.
Western Digital jumped nearly 10 percent as one of the greatest advancers in the Nasdaq. The firm reported adjusted quarterly profit that topped estimates but the hard drive maker’s revenue was below forecasts.
On the other hand, Facebook fell about 2 percent to weigh on the Nasdaq as investors were disappointed by an 82 percent surge in expenses. The social media giant did report earnings after the close Wednesday that beat on both the top and bottom line.
“Overall I think the Facebook numbers reflect tremendous strength in their business,” said Steve Weinstein, senior research analyst at ITG Investment Research. “I don’t see anything in their numbers that will change the trajectory of their business. I think the selloff today is not material.”
Other firms reporting earnings before the bell were Cigna and AB InBev. Companies posting results after the close includeAmgen,LinkedIn and Expedia.
“I think earnings have been very enlightening this quarter, and the market is starting to get the message that things aren’t as good as previously thought,” said Maris Ogg, president at Tower Bridge Advisors.
Insurance company Cigna posted mixed quarterly results. Brewer AB InBev missed on both the top and bottom line due to poor weather and weak economic conditions.
“I think what’s driving markets here is earnings and we’ve been up two days in a row,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities.
“The Fed has come and gone in the July time frame such that consensus hasn’t moved an inch. Everybody’s trying to come up with a reason why the Fed shouldn’t raise rates,” he said. “Pick your poison but the Fed really is trying desperately for one if not two rate hikes.”
In economic news, U.S. gross domestic product came in at 2.3 percent, slightly below economists’ estimates. The department revised its first-quarter GDP reading to a 0.6 percent increase from a 0.2 percent contraction.
“I was mostly surprised by the first quarter revision in GDP,” said Randy Frederick, managing director of trading and derivatives at Charles Schwab.
“This means there are no negative quarters, and that’s good,” he said.
Read MoreUS government revises earlier GDPs to fix anomalies
“I think this means (policymakers) have room to hold off on an interest rate hike,” said Tara Sinclair, chief economist at Indeed.
Sinclair remains optimistic on the economy despite the miss on the second-quarter growth figure. “My own reading of the data is there’s still room to grow,” she said.
U.S. weekly jobless claims increased by 12,000 week-over-week, but came in below expectations at 267,000, the Labor Department said.
“The thing with GDP is that it’s old news. We’re already well into the third quarter and this is a far back looking number,” said Peter Boockvar, chief market analyst at The Lindsey Group. He added that Wall Street was “more focused on digesting what the Fed said yesterday.”
On Wednesday, the central bank kept rates unchanged and gave no hint of liftoff coming in the next meeting. The decision on the rates was unanimous. Policymakers said the economy is expanding moderately and made no mention of recent volatility around Greece or China.
“While the official estimates say December is now more likely (for a rate hike), I believe most investors think September is the more likely bet,” Frederick said.
In fact, Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott, noted that the one of the Fed’s favorite indicators on inflation, the core personal consumption expenditures price index, rose 1.8 percent.
Read MoreUS GDP a dud but gives Fed inflation glimmer it needs
Not all analysts were convinced the economic data supports a rate hike in September.
“I think the underlying takeaway today is the Fed is facing a real problem,” said Adam Sarhan, CEO of Sarhan Capital. “How can the Fed justify their word if economic growth is coming in lower than expected, with rates at zero?”