Stock averages closed narrowly mixed, in the middle of the day's range, after a weaker-than-expected report on consumer confidence sapped the early broad-market gains that followed mostly upbeat earnings news from the tech and retail space. The Dow's win streak stops at eight sessions.

Stocks do turn in a just positive performance for the week, however, the sixth weekly gain in seven. The S&P 500 is up 0.3%; the DJIA is up 0.4%; the Nasdaq is up 0.4% for the week.

Stocks gave up opening gains from upbeat company news after a weak report on consumer confidence put a damper on the bullish mood. Upbeat results and news from Dell (DELL), Intel (INTC) and Marvell (MRVL) helped the Nasdaq recover though it too crossed into red territory briefly earlier in the day.

The Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said its final index of confidence for August fell to 65.7 from 66.0 in July. Although it was above economists' expectations for 64.5 and higher than this month's preliminary reading of 63.2, it was the lowest level since April.

The still weak consumer conifidence reignited some fears that the recovery will be very slow going. A recovery is largely dependent on consumers feeling optimistic enough to spend.

Also this morning, U.S. personal incomes came inn unchanged in July as consumer spending increased 0.2%. Economists had expected a 0.2% rise, according to Reuters. Inflation was tame during the month, with consumer prices flat. Excluding food and energy, consumer prices rose 0.1%.

The mixed bag of economic data sparked some profit-taking before the weekend after a week of strong gains. With Thursday's modestly higher close, the Dow had advanced over eight straight sessions, a streak last seen early in 2007.

Retail shares were helped by earnings beats from Tiffany (TIF) and J Crew (JCG).