The Dow Jones Industrial index regained 80.56 points, to greet noon Wednesday at 41,017.49.
The S&P 500 sagged 0.91 points to 5,528.02.
The NASDAQ dropped 12.99 points to 17,123.31.
Traders are bracing for more volatility in September, historically a weak month for equities. Many investors anticipate a pullback of 5% or more in the coming weeks, although some money managers view any decline as a buying opportunity.
Some megacap technology and chip stocks regained some footing Wednesday, with Advanced Micro Devices and Tesla rallying about 4% each.
Corporate earnings season is largely behind investors, with Hewlett Packard Enterprise set to post earnings after the close. Dollar Tree shed nearly 19% after slashing its guidance.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained ground, lowering yields to 3.8% from Tuesday’s 3.84%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices dipped 47 cents to $69.87 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices fought their way up $2.40 to $2,525.40.