Dow edges higher, stocks aim for gains in choppy trade after inflation update

U.S. stocks were aiming for gains on Thursday, despite choppy trade after July inflation data showed price pressures in a lower trend. The Dow Jones Industrial Average
DJIA,
+0.15%
was up about 143 points, or 0.4%, near 35,266, at last check, while the S&P 500 index
SPX,
+0.03%
and Nasdaq Composite Index
COMP,
+0.12%
were up 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively. Stocks have been volatile intraday in recent sessions. “This seems to be the new trend,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist, Spartan Capital Securities. “The market takes off like a powerhouse, and during the course of the session, loses steam. I think you can contribute that to intraday volatility.”