The 4 Stocks That Lifted the Market
thinkstockAugust 20, 2014: Markets opened lower on Wednesday after a weak overnight showing in international markets. All three major indexes got a bounce higher after the FOMC released minutes of its last meeting. Shortly before closing today the DJIA traded…
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
August 20, 2014: Markets opened lower on Wednesday after a weak overnight showing in international markets. All three major indexes got a bounce higher after the FOMC released minutes of its last meeting. Shortly before closing today the DJIA traded up 0.41% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.33%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.10%.
The Dow 30 stock posting the biggest percentage gain today was once again The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) which traded up 3.01% today at $90.88 in a 52-week range of $72.21 to $91.07, a new high after another new high set yesterday. Home Depot clearly won another round in its battle with Lowe’s Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) which reported quarterly results today. Home Depot’s volume was about 3-times the daily average of around 5.5 million shares.
The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) traded higher by 1.52% at $127.46 today. The stock’s 52-week range is $102.57 to $144.57. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 4.2 million shares traded. The company may be about to increase production of its best-selling 737 passenger jets.
General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) traded up 1.21% at $26.36. The stock’s 52-week range is $22.92 to $28.09. Share volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 28 million shares traded. The company is expected to build a new aircraft engine plant in Indiana, a move apparently welcomed by investors. GE took jet engine orders valued at about $36 billion at a recent European air show.
United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) traded up 1.11% at $109.76 in a 52-week range of $99.50 to $120.66. Volume was about equal to the daily average of around 3.8 million shares traded. The firm announced a new licensing deal today, but the shares are more likely rising after some strong endorsements yesterday from a couple of analysts.
And just to keep everyone abreast of the latest Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), the company set a new all-time high today of $101.09. On a pre-split basis that is $707.63, beating the old high of $705 set in September 2012.
Of the Dow 30 stocks 24 are set to close higher today and just 6 are poised to close lower.
ALSO READ: Customer Service Hall of Shame
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Paul Ausick has been writing for 247Wallst.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.
He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.