The S&P 500 and the Dow industrials were slightly lower but eased from session lows on Wednesday after a report showed manufacturing in the U.S. Midwest expanded more than expected in December.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 9.97 points, or 0.09 percent, at 10,535.44. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dipped 1.56 points, or 0.14 percent, at 1,124.64. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 1.45 points, or 0.06 percent, at 2,289.85.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq was led higher by Apple Inc and Qualcomm Inc .

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Manufacturing