Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The stock market continues to meander in a mixed fashion through today's session. That mixed disposition is evident in breadth figures that show advancers and decliners close to even at both the NYSE and Nasdaq.

The one pocket of weakness from a sector standpoint (emphasis on the word "one") is the energy sector (-1.7%). It is the only sector down more than 1.0%; in fact, it is the only sector in this mixed market that is up, or down, more than 1.0%.

The upside leader is the consumer staples sector (+0.7%), which is being lifted by Philip Morris Intl. (PM 142.98, +12.00, +9.2%) and Hershey (HSY 153.41, +7.49, +5.1%) after their earnings reports.

With respect to the S&P 500 energy sector, there isn't a single component trading higher at this time. WTI crude prices ($70.50, -0.53, -0.8%) are tracking toward the $70.00 per barrel mark after topping $79.00 per barrel in mid-January.