Wall Street gives up ground at the end

US stock indices closed mixed but near recent record highs, as the second-quarter earnings season for major American banks and corporations revs up. 

Earlier US data showed a bigger than expected drop in weekly unemployment claims, while the Philly manufacturing index slowed down more than forecast in July. 

Dow Jones fell 0.13%, or 28.97 points to 21,611.78, while Standard and Poor's 500 inched down 0.02%, or 0.38 points to 2,473.45. NASDAQ Composite rose 0.08%, or 4.96 points to 6,390.00.

Gold futures due on August 16 rose 0.11% to $1,243.40 an ounce from the opening of $1,242.00, while the dollar index slid 0.52% to 94.28 from the opening of 94.78, marking an eleven-month low. 

US crude futures due on August 16 shed 0.70% to $46.97 a barrel from the opening of $47.12, while Brent crude futures due on September 15 tumbled 0.76% to $49.32 a barrel from the opening of $49.70.