June 25, 2015: Markets opened higher on Thursday before sinking below the break-even line in mid-afternoon trading. Equities were bolstered early by a report that personal spending was at its highest level in nearly six years, but early gains in healthcare were eventually offset by financial stocks, industrials, and energy. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded down 0.33% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.24%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded down 0.17%.
The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Thursday was Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) which traded lower by 1.53%% at $86.82. The stock’s 52-week range is $78.19 to $111.46. Trading volume was about 50% below the daily average of around 4.7 million. The company had no specific news today.
Chevron Corp (NYSE: CVX) traded down 0.97% at $98.31. The stock’s 52-week range is $98.31 to $135.10. Trading volume was well below the daily average of around 6.6 million. The company was hit by today’s falling price for crude oil.
3M Companies Inc. (NYSE: MMM) traded down 0.96% at $156.02. The stock’s 52-week range is $130.60 to $170.50. Around 2 million shares traded hands today, about 10% below the daily average of around 2.2 million. The company announced an acquisition on Tuesday, but had no news today.
American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) traded down 0.87% at $80.04. The stock’s 52-week range is $76.53 to $96.24. Trading volume was well below the daily average of around 6.1 million. The company was called a “classic value trap” today by analysts at Barclays.
Of the Dow 30 stocks 23 are set to close lower today and just 7 are on track to close higher.
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks