US stocks mixed after lower-than-expected data

The major US stock indices saw mixed performance in early trading on Friday, after the release of disappointing data in the US.

Data showed that the US durable goods orders index rose 0.4% in August, beating analysts' forecasts of 1.1%.

The core reading durable goods orders index (excluding energy and food prices) rose 0.4% in August, also lower than forecasts of 1%.

Several members of the US Federal Reserve expressed that the US economic recovery would continue until the end of this year, and would return to growth by next year.

As for stocks, Dow Jones held at 26,811 as of 15:38 GMT, Nasdaq added 0.6% or 70 points to 11,743, and S&P 500 rose 0.1% or 5 points to 3,251.