August 19, 2014: Markets opened higher again on Tuesday following a solid report on new home construction and tame inflation. The minutes of the latest Fed Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting will be released tomorrow. Shortly before closing today the DJIA traded up 0.48% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.49%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.40%.
The Dow 30 stock posting the biggest percentage gain today was The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) which traded up 5.83% today at $88.48 in a 52-week range of $72.21 to $88.99. The high was set today after the home improvement firm reported strong second-quarter earnings and raised its outlook for the full year. Volume was about 3-times the daily average of around 6 million shares.
UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) traded higher by 1.41% at $83.50 today. The stock’s 52-week range is $66.72 to $87.24. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 3.6 million shares traded. The company had no news today.
American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) traded up 1.11% at $88.12. The stock’s 52-week range is $71.47 to $96.24. Share volume was about 15% below the daily average of around 3.3 million shares traded. The company received an upgrade from Underperform to Neutral today at Macquarie. Not a real big deal, of course, but every little bit helps the shares which have lost about 2.5% since the beginning of the year.
Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) traded up 1.07% at $127.65 in a 52-week range of $109.27 to $135.10. Volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 5.3 million shares traded. The big oil firm had no specific news today.
Because Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) carries so much weight on the Nasdaq Composite, we noted earlier today that the stock has drawn a bead on its split-adjusted all-time high of $100.72 set nearly two years ago. The shares touched $100.68 Tuesday afternoon and appear to be a lock to set a new top before the week is out.
Of the Dow 30 stocks 22 are set to close higher today and just 8 are poised to close lower.
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks