The DJIA managed to avoid a triple-digit loss, while the COMP side-stepped a return to correction territory
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down more than 260 points at its session low, as anxiety struck ahead of Fed Chair Janet Yellen's post-close speech, and one blue chip got leveled on guidance. A mixed batch of data and a rough day overseas also did little to inspire confidence. Nonetheless, the Dow partially recovered in the afternoon to avoid a triple-digit loss, while the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) managed to elude a finish in correction territory, but gave up its year-to-date lead.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
The
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 16,201.32) spent the whole day in the red, and closed on a loss of 78.6 points, or 0.5%. Thirteen of the Dow's 30 components settled in the black, with Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG) in the lead, up 1.6%. Of the 13 losers,
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) was worst off, plummeting 6.3%.
The
S&P 500 Index (SPX - 1,932.24) backtracked 6.5 points, or 0.3%. Similarly, the
Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 4,734.48) slid 18.3 points, or 0.4%, to land just below its 2014 closing price of 4,736.05.
The
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 23.47) added 1.3 points, or 6.1%, to close atop its 10-day moving average for the first session in 16.
5 Items on Our Radar Today:
- It was a busy day on the economic front, with durable goods orders falling for the first time in three months, weekly jobless claims rising less than expected, and new home sales jumping to their highest level in more than seven years. (USA Today; MarketWatch)
- Pope Francis addressed Congress today, touching on a number of hot-button issues, including immigration, global warming, and capital punishment. "Politics is ... an expression of our compelling need to live as one, in order to build as one, the greatest common good," the pontiff said. (The New York Times)
- What history suggests will happen to these four stocks tomorrow.
- Bearish betting ramped up on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), as the company addressed its recent problems with malware.
- For the second straight day, biotechs made major moves.
Commodities:
Crude oil ended a see-saw session higher -- its first win in three -- helped by a drawdown at a key Oklahoma delivery hub, as well as a weaker dollar. By day's end, crude for November delivery was up 43 cents, or 1%, at $44.91 per barrel.
Gold rallied for a second consecutive session, as the durable goods report weighed on the dollar, and a global market downturn increased demand for the safe-haven investment. By the close, December-dated gold was $22.30, or 2%, higher, at $1,153.80 per ounce -- a five-week high.