US stocks mixed as Nvidia retreat hits tech stocks; payrolls data in focus

"Today definitely feels like it's a bit of profit taking or just a breather for a stock that's up 145% year to date," said Dave Mazza, CEO of .

Gains in Nvidia and other have largely driven Wall Street's rally this year, with the chipmaker accounting for roughly a third of the S&P 500's over 12% year-to-date gains.

The technology sector led declines with a 0.5% dip, while an index tracking lost 0.8%.

Investors' focus is now on the crucial nonfarm payrolls report, expected on Friday, which they expect to offer further clues on the strength of the labor market and the path for Federal Reserve policy.

A Thursday report from the showed rose more than expected to a seasonally adjusted 229,000 for the week ended June 1, the latest in a string of reports indicating tightness in the labor market is reducing, giving the Fed more room to cut rates.

Traders see a 68% chance of a September rate reduction, according to the 's FedWatch tool, and have priced in about two cuts this year, as per data from . Forecasters polled by Reuters also expect two cuts.

Some market participants also pointed to growing pressure for the Fed with both the European Central Bank and Bank of Canada beginning easing cycles.

"If you get too much divergences among the major economies, it can start to put pressure on different pockets of the economy...it might make something like a (Fed) September cut a little more obvious," said Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird.

Five out of the 11 S&P 500 sectors were in gains, led by a 0.6% rise in consumer staples.

Gains in software companies, including a 2.5% rise in Salesforce, helped the Dow outperform.

At 12:08 p.m. ET, the Industrial Average was up 20.85 points, or 0.05%, at 38,828.18, the S&P 500 was down 4.87 points, or 0.09%, at 5,349.16, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 20.95 points, or 0.12%, at 17,166.95.

Among others, Lululemon Athletica rose 5% after beating expectations for first-quarter profit and revenue on Wednesday.

U.S.-listed shares of NIO dropped 6.5% after the Chinese electric vehicle maker posted a quarterly net loss.

Five Below slumped 12.9% after the discount store operator trimmed its annual net-sales forecast.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 1.06-to-1 ratio on the NYSE. Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 1.50-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

The S&P index recorded 20 new 52-week highs and 5 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 51 new highs and 68 new lows.