MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. Stocks End Choppy Session Higher

By Anora Mahmudova, MarketWatch

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. stock market finished Thursday's volatile session generally higher as positive earnings and stronger-than-expected data outweighed worries over military escalation near Ukrainian border.

An 8.2% jump in Apple Inc, the heaviest-weighed stock on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, was the biggest in 2 years and accounted for more than a 4-point gain on the S&P 500, according to Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indexes.

The S&P 500 (SPX) ended the day 3.22 points, or 0.2%, higher at 1,878.61. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) closed absolutely unchanged at 16,501.65. The last time the blue-chip index closed without any change was in Dec 24, 2001, according to FactSet.

The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF), gained 21.37 points, or 0.5%, to 4,148.34.

Read the recap of MarketWatch's live blog of today's stock-market action.

"Apple's earnings last night and durable goods orders this morning were driving the markets higher, up until Ukraine fears resurfaced," said Kate Warne, investment strategist at Edward Jones.

"Ukraine has been on the back burner and simmering, but today's headline news was a reminder to investors that the pot can sometimes boil over," she added.

Ahead of the market open, a jump in durable-goods orders outweighed a bigger-than-expected rise in weekly jobless claims, sending stock futures higher. Orders for durable goods such as computers, aircraft and heavy machinery jumped 2.6% in March and posted the biggest gain in four months, offering another sign that the U.S. economy might be on the upswing after a winter-induced lull. The jump was far above expectations.

Separately, the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits last week rose to the highest level in April, but most of the bump may have been related to a seasonal quirk tied to the Easter holiday.

At the center of attention, however, was Apple Inc., (AAPL)whose quarterly results topped Wall Street forecasts and the company announced a 7-for-1 stock split. If Apple joins the Dow, who gets the boot? Vote here.

Facebook(FB) reversed post-earnings gains and closed 0.8% lower. The social network company posted first-quarter earnings that nearly tripled and revenue that jumped 72%, with both numbers blowing out forecasts.

Ahead of the open, economic bellwether Caterpillar (CAT) topped forecasts reporting a 4.8% increase in profits during the first quarter. Shares rose 1.8%. But CEO and chairman Doug Oberhelman was concerned about the situation in Ukraine.

"We are very concerned about the situation in Ukraine and Russia. We are hoping for a peaceful resolution, but business confidence around the world could dampen, and trade and world GDP could slow should the situation deteriorate. The global economy remains fragile, and as such, one or two setbacks could create substantial downside risk for the global economic recovery." Also read: 5 companies worried about Ukraine.

General Motors (GM.XX) reversed post-earnings gains and closed 0.6% lower. The company saw a profit drop on recall charges, but far exceeded analyst expectations, with earnings of 29 cents a share and revenue of $37.4 billion.

Aetna Inc. (AET) rose 5.9% after beating earnings estimates. 3M (MMM) slipped 1% after missing expectations on revenue.

Shares of Zimmer Holdings Inc. (ZMH) jumped 12% on news it will buy Biomet in a deal valued at $13.35 billion.

On the downside, shares of Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM)fell 3.5% after the wireless-technology firm reported an earnings view that beat forecasts, but missed on sales.

Reporting after the closing bell, Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) shares rose 2.2%, after its first-quarter results topped forecasts.

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) shares also rose 2% after earnings and revenue came in above Wall Street's expectations. Microsoft earnings: First time for new CEO Nadella.

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) shares gained 0.7% after fist-quarter profit and revenue were broadly in line with expectations.

Overseas, Wall Street's pullback drove some losses across Asia, with the Nikkei 225 index off nearly 1%. In Europe most benchmarks rebounded from losses and closed higher.

In other markets, crude-oil prices (CLM4) rose, while gold (GCM4) also gained and the ICE dollar index (DXY), a gauge of its strength against six rivals, slipped.

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