Nokia ( NOK ) and Microsoft ( MSFT ) are said to be close to announcing a software partnership, Bloomberg reports. Stocks are mixed at mid-session as investors digest yet another stream of earnings news--most notably from Cisco Systems ( CSCO )--while jobless claims figures declined to a two-and-a-half-year low. Some economists thought a surprise rate hike couldn't be entirely ruled out given recent comments and signs of rekindling inflation risks, even as growth remains tepid.