S&P 500, Nasdaq Slide After Mixed Pharma Earnings; Economic Data in Focus

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq opened lower ahead of manufacturing and job openings data that could clear the air on a soft landing for the U.S. economy, while investors assessed mixed earnings from pharmaceutical heavyweights Merck and Pfizer.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 26.46 points, or 0.07 percent, at the open to 35,585.99.

The S&P 500 opened lower by 10.13 points, or 0.22 percent, at 4,578.83, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 71.09 points, or 0.50 percent, to 14,274.93 at the opening bell.