FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2014, file photo, American flags fly in front of the New York Stock Exchange. The U.S. stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

NEW YORK - The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

4 p.m.

Stocks are ending a choppy day higher after the White House announced tariffs on steel and aluminum that carved out exceptions for key U.S. allies including Canada and Mexico.

Technology and health care stocks posted some of the biggest gains Thursday.

Pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts jumped 8.6 per cent after agreeing to be bought by health insurer Cigna.

Grocery chain Kroger tumbled 12 per cent after its annual profit forecast fell short of Wall Street's estimates.

Traders are turning their focus to the monthly jobs report due out early Friday.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 12 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 2,738.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 93 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 24,895. The Nasdaq rose 31 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 7,427.

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11:45 a.m.

Stocks gave up an early gain and were mixed in midday trading on Wall Street.

Pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts jumped 10 per cent Thursday after it agreed to be bought by health insurer Cigna for $52 billion. Cigna slid 10 per cent.

Grocery chain Kroger tumbled 12 per cent after its annual profit forecast fell short of Wall Street's estimates. Newspaper publisher Tronc plunged 23 per cent.

President Donald Trump is expected to announce tariffs on steel and aluminum imports later in the day.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 2 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 2,729.

The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 5 points to 24,797. The Nasdaq composite rose 22 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7,419.

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9:35 a.m.

U.S. stocks are opening mostly higher, with retailers and technology companies making some of the biggest gains.

Pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts jumped 16 per cent Thursday after it agreed to be bought by health insurer Cigna for $52 billion. Cigna slid 6 per cent.

Grocery chain Kroger tumbled 8 per cent after its annual profit forecast fell short of Wall Street's estimates.

Traders will be watching to see if President Donald Trump announces tariffs on steel and aluminum imports later in the day.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 10 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 2,736.

The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 130 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 24,931. The Nasdaq composite rose 33 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 7,430.

News from © The Associated Press, 2018