Midday Report: Target Suffers Weak Holiday Season; U.S. Stocks Fluctuate

U.S. stocks held mixed throughout Wednesday morning even as rising consumer prices and industrial activity reinforced faith in the U.S. economy's recovery. A speech from Federal Reserve Chair Yellen this afternoon could provide direction. Homebuilder confidence eased in January, though held at its second-highest level since before the financial crisis. The measure hit an 11-year high at the end of 2016. Target (TGT) - Get Report fell after reporting disappointing holiday sales. Same-store sales fell more than 1% over the season as the retailer suffered from the same weak traffic trends as a number of other store chains. Disney (DIS) - Get Report was downgraded to underperform at BMO Capital. The firm said it continues to see net negatives for ESPN and the company may struggle to achieve expectations in its studio unit.