The Nasdaq 100, which includes 100 of the largest nonfinancial securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, fell 1.22 points to 2,101.79. The broader Nasdaq composite rose 1.31 points to 2,730.74.

Among the gainers, shares of retailer Sears Holding Corp. added $4.32, or 3.1 percent, to $142.60, after a Discover Financial Services report showed a rise in consumer spending from August to September.

Billboard company Lamar Advertising Co. shares rose $1.52, or 3 percent, to $52.39. Morgan Stanley had a note on the company saying recent regulatory changes regarding digital billboards "is a clear incremental positive for Lamar and the Outdoor industry."

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. gained $2.11, or 2.8 percent, to $99.06 ahead of second-quarter earnings due after the bell. Credit Suisse raised its price target on the stock to $100 from $70 on strong expectations for the report.

On the losing side, shares of wireless carrier NII Holdings Inc. fell $5.44, or 6.9 percent, to $73.40, while pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Inc. shed $2.58, 4.6 percent, to $53.26.

KLA-Tencor Corp. shares slipped $1.20, or 2.2 percent, to $54 after a Gartner Inc. research report predicted a slowdown for semiconductor chip-equipment makers into next year.