In precious metal ETFs, the SPDR Gold Trust ( GLD ) is down 0.25% at $148.56. Stocks are lower at mid-day as the major indexes pare prior-session gains in the face of a weak New York regional manufacturing report and the biggest rise in three years of core consumer prices, although overall inflation is down. Among the executives AMD approached were Oracle (ORCL) CO-President Mark Hurd, EMC COO Pat Gelsigner and Carlyle Group Managing Director Greg Summe, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.