NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are continuing their slow trek higher after the government's report of a drop in companies' inventories during January.
The Commerce Department says wholesale inventories fell 0.2 percent in January after falling 1 percent in December. But companies' sales rose 1.3 percent, the 10th straight gain. If sales pick up, that would likely force businesses to restock inventories.
There's very little news to sway the market, so investors are mostly watching and waiting.
In midday trading, the Dow Jones industrial average is up 8 at 10,572. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is up 5 at 1,145. The Nasdaq composite index is up 15 at 2,356.
