Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street Thursday, as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses.

Many Wall Street bears have retreated in the face of this year's blistering stock rally. The few that remain see a steep correction on the horizon.

Nvidia, the superstar stock that’s been a big reason for Wall Street’s run to repeated records this year, fell 1.2% to weigh on the market. It’s the eighth loss in nine days for the stock, which has dropped more than 12% from its record set last month, as its moonshot momentum slows.

Asian shares were mostly higher on Friday, with Japan’s benchmark registering strong gains for a second straight day. Oil prices and U.S. futures declined. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index climbed 1.4% to 40,

The S&P 500 climbed 0.7% in morning trading after erasing an initial drop. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 311 points, or 0.7%, as of 10:40 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.7%.

Asian shares were mixed on Friday after China reported lower corporate profits in November, the fourth straight month of decline.

Stock indexes closed mixed on Wall Street at the end of a rare bumpy week. The S & P 500 ended little changed Friday. The benchmark index reached its latest in a string of records a week ago. It lost ground for the week following three weeks of gains.

Asian shares were mostly higher Thursday in thin post-Christmas holiday trading, while oil prices rose. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index surged 0.8% to 39,449.55, on strong gains in retailers and tourism-related stocks after Japan agreed to ease visa conditions for Chinese tourists.