US blue chips stock index posted mild loss on Wednesday on mixed signals from the US economy. US industrial production was slightly above expectations in July while New York region's manufacturing activity deteriorated much more than forecast in August. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index lost 0.06% to close at 13,164.78. Only four in nine industries included in the index managed to climb. Financials and basic materials producers were the strongest sectors. Bank of America and American Express jumped 1.16% and 1.03% while Alcoa and El du Pont de Nemours gained 0.46% and 0.28% after upbeat industrial production data. Meanwhile, oil and gas and health care companies weighted down on the US stock index. Chevron and Exxon Mobile tumbled by 0.66% and 0.23% despite higher energy prices amid falling US crude oil stockpiles. Shares of Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co declined by 0.42% and 0.79%.