Stocks are mixed despite strong retail sales

NEW YORK — Stocks are trading mixed at midday as investors weigh competing news about strong U.S. retail sales versus a troubling increase in Spain's borrowing costs.

The Dow Jones industrial average is up 54 points at 12,904. It had been up as many as 125 points earlier.

The broader Standard & Poor's 500 is down two points at 1,368 after wavering small between gains and losses. The Nasdaq is down 24 points on declines in Google and Apple.

Retail sales rose 0.8 percent in March from the month before, beating expectations. But there are worries that the increase was merely a result of warm weather and people making spring purchases earlier.

Yields on Spanish government bonds rose, a sign that investors are worried about the country's ability to repay its debt.