Midday Report: Advance Auto Parts Drags on S&P 500; Wall Street Rally Stalls

Stocks were narrowly mixed as a Wall Street rally failed to extend into day two. A mix of retail earnings pulled markets in opposite directions as investors moved on from geopolitical headlines. Advance Auto Parts Inc.  (AAP) - Get Report was the worst performer on the S&P 500 after falling short of quarterly profit. Revenue was flat. For the full year, the auto retailer anticipates a 1% to 3% drop in same-store sales. TJX Companies Inc.  (TJX) - Get Report posted surprise earnings growth over its recent quarter. The parent of off-price retailer T.J. Maxx also boosted its fiscal 2018 profit guidance. Optimism among home builders unexpectedly improved in August after reaching an eight-month low in July. The measure increased by four points to a level of 68. Analysts expected a retreat.