Strong Facebook results boost Nasdaq, S&P; Dow Jones under pressure

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq opened higher on Thursday on upbeat results from Facebook Inc, extending a rally after the Federal Reserve's pledge to be patient on further interest rate hikes, while the Dow was held lower by a spate of downbeat earnings reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 60.38 points, or 0.24 per cent, at the open to 24,954.48. The S&P 500 opened higher by 4.44 points, or 0.17 per cent, at 2,685.49. The Nasdaq Composite gained 25.09 points, or 0.35 per cent, to 7,208.17 at the opening bell.