NEW YORK (AFP) - A collection of lacklustre earnings reports and in-line economic data capped US stock gains on Wednesday, with the markets gaining no bump - or loss - from President Barack Obama's key policy speech.

At the closing bell the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 36.10 points (0.26 per cent) at 13,982.60.

The broad-based S&P 500 edged up 0.89 (0.06 per cent) to 1,520.32, barely extending a five-year high reached on Tuesday.

The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite climbed 10.39 points (0.33 per cent) to 3,196.88.

Trade was strong in General Electric and Comcast, after Comcast agreed late Tuesday to buy the remaining 49 per cent stake it does not own in media and entertainment giant NBCUniversal from GE for US$18.1 billion (S$22.4 billion).

Dow member GE shares added 3.7 per cent while Comcast gained 3.0 per cent.