February 28, 2017: Markets opened lower again Tuesday but neither the Nasdaq Composite nor the S&P 500 index could climb out of the slough of despond. The blue chips did rise into positive territory briefly, but couldn’t hold onto the gains. Among the 11 S&P sectors, only utilities and consumer staples traded above the breakeven line while the losers were consumer discretionary sotcks and materials. WTI crude oil for April delivery settled at $54.01 a barrel, down 4 cents on the day, but up about 2.3% in the month of February. April gold dropped 0.4% on the day to settle at $1,253.90, but posted a gain of about 3.5% for the month. Equities were headed for a lower close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded down 0.18% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.35%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded down 0.70%.
The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Tuesday was Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) which traded down 1.58% at $70.61. The stock’s 52-week range is $62.72 to $75.19. Volume was about 30% above the daily average of around 9 million shares. The company had no specific news, but the carnage following Target’s earnings report this morning was not localized to just Target’s stock.
Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) traded down 1.15% at $36.09. The stock’s 52-week range is $29.50 to $38.45. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 22.2 million shares. The company had no specific news.
Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) traded down 1.05% at $57.08. The stock’s 52-week range is $49.01 to $65.44. Volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 9.4 million shares. The company had no specific news Tuesday.
E.I. du Pont de Nemours Inc. (NYSE: DD) traded down 0.93% at $78.49. The stock’s 52-week range is $61.12 to $80.66. Volume was about 30% below the daily average of around 3.4 million shares. The company had no specific news Tuesday.
Of the Dow 30 stocks, 11 are on track to close higher Tuesday and 19 are set to close lower.
Essential Tips for Investing: Sponsored
A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
