U.S. Stocks Little Changed on Earnings Before Jobs Data

U.S. stocks were little changed, after the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rallied to a record, as investors watched corporate earnings to assess the strength of the economy before tomorrow’s employment data.

Apple Inc. rose 2.5 percent as Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook will likely introduce a high-definition iPad mini and thinner iPad tomorrow. General Electric Co. gained 2.3 percent to the highest level since 2008. VF Corp. and Hasbro Inc. climbed at least 3.4 percent, reaching all-time-highs, on better-than-estimated earnings. Homebuilders slumped 2 percent as a group amid a report showing existing-home sales declined for the first time in three months. Halliburton Co. dropped 3.5 percent as revenue fell short of forecasts.