Stocks took a step back at the outset, with sentiment hit by softer oil prices and some mixed economic data.
The S&P 500 was off nine points at 1,9778 and the Dow Jones average was down 34 at 16,865, while the Nasdaq Composite shed 19 points at 4,686.
First time jobless claims rose last week by 6,000 from the preceding week to 278,000, while the productivity of US businesses fell an annualised 2.2% in the fourth quarter, though that was a smaller fall than expected and a narrower change than the initial estimate of a 3.0% fall.
Grocery chain Kroger (NYSE:KR) led the blue-chips lower after reporting disappointing fourth quarter sales numbers. The shares shed 6.9%.
Mining and equipment services provider Joy Global (NYSE:JOY) shot up 15% despite the company sliding into the red in the fourth quarter to the tune of $22.4mln, versus a profit the year before of $29.2mln.
The market was cheered by news the company is now targeting more than $100mln in cost reductions this year.
Among the small caps, Verasterm (NASDAQ:VSTM) was wanted after the cancer stem cell specialist said it had started 2016 with a strong balance sheet and with an expectation of significant progress from its drug development programs.
The shares advanced 26% to $1.59.
Sector peer Contravir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CTRV) climbed 15% to $1.08 after it reported positive results for its shingles treatment.