[BRIEFING.COM] Stocks are still trading with modest gains, which are generally broad based. However, financials are trading as noticeable laggards; the sector is down 0.5%.

Financials are being hampered by weakness among shares of diversified banks (-1.3%) and ongoing losses among shares of insurers (-1.6%).

Separately, wholesale inventories fell 0.9%, which was a tad less severe than the 1.0% declilne that had been widely forecast. Stocks haven't shown much reaction to the news.