US stocks were positive at the session's half, but pulled back from recent highs, as Wall Street digested mixed messages on the US/China trade front with unexpectedly tame inflation data. BlackRock (BLK) edged lower following a Reuters report that said the company has gained approval from French regulators to establish an alternative investment firm in the country. The global asset manager said that the plan to set up a French-based alternative investment unit is part of its overall strategy to boost its presence in the country and the continent as it prepares for the financial fallout from Brexit.