Monday Closing Bell: Markets Inch Higher after Weak Opening

November 11, 2013: U.S. equity markets opened lower Monday morning on a day when bond markets were closed in observance of Veterans Day and trading activity was relatively light. No U.S. economic data was reported today either nor were there any notable earnings reports.

European Asian and markets closed higher today while Latin American markets closed mixed.

Tuesday’s calendar includes speeches by Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher, Minneapolis Fed President Narayana Kocherlakota, and Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart and the following scheduled data releases and events (all times Eastern):

• 7:30 a.m. – National Federation of Independent Business small business optimism index
• 8:30 a.m. – Chicago Fed national activity index
• 11:30 a.m. – 3- and 6-month bill auctions
• 1:00 p.m. – 3-year note auction

Here are the closing bell levels for Monday:

• S&P500 1771.89 (+1.28; +0.07%)
• DJIA 15783.10 (+21.32; +0.14%)
• NASDAQ 3919.79 (+0.56; +0.01%)
• 10YR TNOTE 2.747% (+0.0625)
• Gold $1,281.10 (-3.50; -0.3%)
• WTI Crude oil $95.14 (+0.54; +0.05%)
• Euro/Dollar: 1.3415 (+0.0057; +0.43%)

Big Earnings Movers: Gogo Inc. (NASDAQ: GOGO) is up 28.3% at $24.05. Gulf Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: GURE) is up 15.8% at $2.46.

Stocks on the Move: ViroPharma Inc. (NASDAQ: VPHM) is up 25.4% at $49.38 on a $4.2 billion buyout offer from London-listed Shire. Zalicus Inc. (NASDAQ: ZLCS) is down 72.3% at $1.30 on a failed drug trial.

In all, 128 NYSE stocks put up new 52-week highs today, while 32 stocks posted new lows.