The S&P 500 and Nasdaq opened slightly lower on Wednesday after Goldman Sachs posted a decline in quarterly profit, denting investor optimism about earnings from financial companies. The Dow was up slightly.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 9.77 points, or 0.08 percent, at 11,847.70. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 1.35 points, or 0.10 percent, at 1,293.67. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 3.78 points, or 0.14 percent, at 2,762.07.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch)

Goldman sachs Down