The Nasdaq turned positive, while the S&P and the Dow sharply pared losses in late afternoon trading on Friday, led by gains in technology and materials stocks.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 6.88 points, or 0.07 percent, at 9,995.30. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dipped 0.74 of a point, or 0.07 percent, to 1,063.85. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 12.78 points, or 0.60 percent, at 2,138.21.

(Reporting by Angela Moon; Editing by Jan Paschal)

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