HP, Caterpillar, Alcoa: Dow Midday Movers

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- U.S. stocks were rising midday Thursday amid mixed economic data.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 138 points, or 1.1%, to 12,944. Leading the Dow higher were Hewlett-Packard(HPQ) , Caterpillar(CAT) and Alcoa(AA) .

PC shipments climbed 1.9 percent to 89 million units, compared with predictions for a 1.2 percent drop, according to Stamford, Connecticut-based Gartner Inc. (IT)

Shares of Hewlett-Packard gained 5.89% to $24.79. Personal computer shipments unexpectedly rose 1.9% in the first quarter from last year, according to research firm Gartner.

TheStreet Ratings gives HP a C+ grade and hold rating.

Caterpillar shares rose 3.22% to $105.03. The mining and construction equipment company sold part of its Bucyrus business to one of its Australian dealers for $400 million.

Caterpillar gets an A grade from TheStreet Ratings with a buy rating and $122.28 price target.

Shares of Alcoa gained 2.78% to $10.18. The aluminum giant posted a positive earnings surprise earlier this week.

The biggest laggard in the index midday was McDonald's(MCD) . The stock fell 91 cents, or 0.92%, to $97.65.

-- Written by Alexandra Zendrian

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