US open: Mixed start to trading as wild week for stocks continues

Wall Street trading began on a mixed note on Friday as major indices seemed unwilling to pump the brakes on what had been a rollercoaster last few days on the Street.

As of 1530 BST, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.11% at 26,920.42, while the S&P 500 was down 0.07% at 2,975.65 and the Nasdaq Composite started out the session 0.33% weaker at 8,003.88.

The Dow opened 29.30 points firmer on Friday after closing lower during the previous session following the release of a whistleblower complaint against Donald Trump in relation to a call between the president and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Although stocks looked set to open higher on Friday, fears surrounding news that Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, had claimed that the White House tried to "cover-up" the president's call with Zelensky weighed on sentiment.

In trade news, the US and China were set to resume talks on 10 October in Washington, according to CNBC.

On the data front, US durable goods orders grew unexpectedly in August, as a jump in orders from the defence sector more than offset falling demand for planes and automobiles.

Orders for goods made to last for more than three years rose at a month-on-month pace of 0.2% in August to reach $250.67bn (consensus: -1.2%), the Department of Commerce said. Defence aircraft and parts were especially strong, registering another monthly gain of over 30% to hit $4.56bn.

Elsewhere, Americans reined in their spending at the end of the summer despite a jump in disposable income.

According to the Department of Commerce, personal incomes and spending in the US rose at a 0.4% month-on-month clip in August (consensus: 0.4%) following the prior month's muted 0.1% increase.

Lastly, Americans grew more confident last month despite their perceptions of increased uncertainty, the results of the most closely-followed survey of consumer sentiment showed.

The University of Michigan's consumer confidence index rose from a reading of 89.8 for August to 93.2 in September, due in particular to improved trends for middle-income households' incomes.

September's final reading was slightly better than a preliminary estimate of 92.0 and economists' forecast for 92.1.

Federal Reserve vice chair Randal Quarles will speak on macroprudential regulation later in the session

In corporate news, Micron shares dropped more than 6% at the bell after the chipmaker reported first-quarter guidance below expectations, while Wells Fargo shares climbed 4% after naming Bank of New York Mellon chairman Charles Scharf as its new CEO.