NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Techs slipped at the open Wednesday, after Microsoft said it will delay releasing its new Windows Vista operating system.

However, blue chips rose on news that GM and its labor union have reached an early retirement deal aimed at cutting costs.

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The Nasdaq composite (down 8.38 to 2,285.85, Charts) lost about 0.4 percent in the early going, after having fallen even more at the open.

The Dow Jones industrial average (up 1.36 to 11,236.83, Charts) added around 0.2 percent and the Standard & Poor's 500 (up 0.59 to 1,297.82, Charts) index was barely higher.

Stocks tumbled Tuesday, weighed down by worries about rising interest rates. But the focus Wednesday turned to company news.

No. 1 software maker Microsoft said it won't launch the consumer version of its Vista system until early 2007, rather than the second half of 2006, due partly to security concerns.

Shares of Microsoft (down $0.59 to $27.15, Research) fell 2.2 percent in the early going. Select other techs fell too, including PC-makers Hewlett-Packard (down $0.62 to $32.92, Research) and Gateway (down $0.02 to $2.41, Research).

But General Motors (up $0.48 to $22.48, Research) shares gained 2.7 percent after the automaker said it had reached a deal with bankrupt parts supplier Delphi (up $0.13 to $1.01, Research) and its auto workers union. (Full story).

Treasury prices crept higher, lowering the yield on the benchmark 10-year note to 4.69 percent from 4.70 percent late Tuesday. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

U.S. light crude oil for May delivery fell 23 cents to $62.11 a barrel in electronic trading.

COMEX gold for April delivery fell $3.20 to $550 an ounce.

In global trade, most major Asian markets ended lower, while European markets were mixed at midday.

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