US stocks closed mixed as oil prices recovered from previous sessions' sharp declines.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Thursday was down 12.7 points, or 0.06 per cent, to 21,397.29, Xinhua news agency reported.
The S&P 500 lost 1.11 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 2,434.50. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 2.73 points, or 0.04 per cent, to 6,236.69.
The market was under pressure on Tuesday and Wednesday as the energy sector dropped over 2 per cent on falling oil prices. Oil prices declined over 4 per cent in the past two days amid concerns of rising production.
Investors' sentiment was lifted as crude futures for August delivery climbed nearly 0.5 per cent on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the US stocks were also influenced by rising health care sector. The sector climbed over 1 per cent as investors were awaiting the unveiling of the Senate's health care bill next week, with aims at repealing and replacing Obamacare.
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--IANS
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