May 13, 2015: Markets opened higher on Wednesday but were able to eke out just modest gains by the end of the day. Both the dollar and crude oil weakened today while 10-year Treasury note yields rose four ticks to 2.29%. Retail sales were flat according to the Census Bureau, export prices slipped, and inventories rose. The markets appear headed for a mixed close today. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded down 0.07% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.05%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.12%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Wednesday was E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (NYSE: DD) which traded lower by 6.58% at $69.46. The stock’s 52-week range is $63.70 to $80.65. Trading volume was nearly 6-times the daily average of around 5.1 million shares. The company’s shareholders today rejected activist investor Nelson Peltz’s proxy attempt.

The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) traded down 1.20%% at $111.17. The stock’s 52-week range is $75.32 to $117.99. Trading volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 5 million shares. The company had no specific news today, but probably felt the effect of the report on lower retail sales.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) traded down 1.09% at $78.10. The stock’s 52-week range is $72.61 to $90.97. Trading volume was about 10% below the daily average of around 6.8 million shares. The company said it would partner with Alibaba and its Alipay mobile payment system for some of Wal-Mart’s China locations.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) traded down 0.77% at $33.52. The stock’s 52-week range is $27.51 to $35.53. Trading volume was about 35% below the daily average of around 27 million shares. The company had no specific news today.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 19 are set to close higher today and 11 are on track to close lower. The DuPont drop is too much for the net gains to overcome

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