Major U.S. stock-indexes slightly higher in quiet trading on Wednesday morning, led by healthcare and consumer stocks after a flood of data that suggested that the U.S. economy was growing modestly. The data left intact expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates for the first time since 2006 when it meets for the last time this year on Dec. 15-16.

Data showed claims for jobless benefits fell more than expected to 260,000 last week, while durable goods orders for October, excluding aircraft, increased 1.3%, far more than the 0.4% expected.

Dow stocks mixed (16 in positive area, 14 in negative). Top looser - International Business Machines Corporation (IBM, -0.80%). Top gainer - Pfizer Inc. (PFE. +3.17%).

S&P index sectors also mixed. Top looser - Utilities (-1.2%). Top gainer - Healthcare (+1,2%).

At the moment:

Dow 17798.00 +33.00 +0.19%

S&P 500 2088.50 +3.75 +0.18%

Nasdaq 100 4679.25 +13.25 +0.28%

Oil 42.41 -0.46 -1.07%

Gold 1071.30 -2.50 -0.23%

U.S. 10yr 2.23 -0.01