The markets traded mixed during the midday with the Dow losing 19 points to 18,462. Nasdaq rose 5 points to 5,223.
There are indications that Amazon is planning to open brick-and-mortar stores for customers to collect groceries that have been ordered online. Based on permit applications and planning documents, Amazon may be exploring locations in San Carlos and Sunnyvale in the San Francisco area of California and in Seattle, Washington.
Software startup nuTonomy introduced self-driving taxis in Singapore today. Potential customers will be invited to hail a self-driving car in the one-north business district. Each self-driving taxi will be accompanied by an engineer to observe and assume control if necessary. NuTonomy plans to expand service with a wider commercial launch in 2018.
TripAdvisor acquired social mapping app Citymaps for an undisclosed sum. Citymaps was founded in 2010 to aggregate business information. The app now highlights point of interest on maps that users can customize and share.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 7 to 5 on the NYSE and by 9 to 7 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 held steady at 2,175. Bitcoin fell $3 to $575.
