By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

Goldman Sachs rises after earnings

U.S. stocks were headed lower on Thursday, with investors shaking off a stream of better-than-expected earnings, amid a mixed batch of economic reports and a retreat in crude-oil prices.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was down more than 16 points, or 0.1%, to 18,096. About two-thirds of the Dow's components were lower led by Chevron Corp. (CVX)

The S&P 500 index (SPX) was off 5 points, or 0.3% to 2,101, with eight out of the indexes 10 major sectors showing losses, led by energy and utilities. The consumer and health care sectors proved bright spots.

Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) was down about 5 points, or 0.1%, at 5,005.

The move lower for stocks marked a pullback from Wednesday's advances (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid), when better-than-expected earnings and a jump in oil prices sent the benchmarks close to record closing levels. The S&P 500 ended just 0.5% shy of its all-time close of 2117.39 hit Monday, March 2, while the Dow average missed its record by 1%.

Part of the drag on stocks Thursday was due to a mixed bag of economic indicators. That included construction on new homes, which were weaker than expected, and a manufacturing report that was better than expected.

Construction starts rose to annual rate of 926,000 in March, but analysts polled by MarketWatch had expected a 1.04 million (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/housing-starts-thaw-in-march-after-february-freeze-2015-04-16), while a report of people seeking new U.S. unemployment benefits in the second week of April. Initial jobless claims rose to 294,000 (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jobless-claims-hit-highest-level-in-six-weeks-2015-04-16)in the week ended April 11, from a revised 282,000 from the week prior.

A rearing of manufacturing also looked strong, with the Philadelphia Fed's manufacturing index rising to a reading of 7.5 in April, better than MarketWatch estimates of 6. Any reading above zero signals improving conditions for manufacturing.

Corporate results on Thursday, however, have largely been upbeat. Goldman Sachs Group Inc.(GS) reported profit and revenue ahead of forecasts.

Citigroup Inc.(C) posted first-quarter results that beat analysts expectations for profits but missed on revenues.

Also Reporting ahead of the bell, UnitedHealth Group Inc.(UNH) raised its outlook for 2015 earnings to $6.15 to $6.30 per share. Its prior outlook was for $6.00 to $6.25 per share. The heath-care company's shares rose 2.8% premarket after it released first-quarter results.

Shares of Philip Morris International Inc.(PM) picked up 4.6% ahead of the market open after the cigarette maker reported a dip in first-quarter profit, but raised its earnings guidance (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/philip-morris-raises-guidance-shipment-volume-up-2015-04-16) for the full year.

BlackRock Inc.(BLK) reported adjusted first-quarter earnings of $4.89 a share, beating FactSet estimates.

Fed speakers: Investors will be looking ahead to a healthy lineup of Federal Reserve speakers within a two-hour time frame on Thursday.

The hefty Fed lineup comes after comments on Wednesday from St. Louis Fed President James Bullard (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/feds-bullard-says-rate-hikes-are-needed-for-coming-boom-2015-04-15) and Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/feds-lacker-strong-case-can-be-made-for-higher-rates-2015-04-15), when each made a case for raising interest rates soon.

Other markets: Asian bourses closed mostly higher (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid), while the major European indexes were mired in the red (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid).

Crude oil (CLK5) pulled back (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid)after Wednesday's 6% rally. Metals rose, and the dollar (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid) moved lower.

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