The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 rose at the open on Wednesday as continued strong earnings, including from Apple Inc , underscored the growing sense companies were faring well despite the soft patch in the economy.

The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 2.25 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,328.98. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 7.47 points, or 0.26 percent, to 2,833.99.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 7.72 points, or 0.06 percent, to 12,579.70 shortly after the open.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

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