Las Vegas Sands stock jumped even as the casino and resort company posted fourth-quarter earnings that missed expectations. Instead, investors seemed focused on its share buyback program and the profitable Singapore business.

Key Takeaways U.S. equities were mixed at midday as the market turned its focus back to corporate earnings reports.IBM earnings exceeded forecasts as demand for its artificial intelligence products rose.

The impact of the pandemic has started to recede, with Las Vegas Sands witnessing a recovery in key markets driven by pent-up demand and a resurgence in tourism