Wal-Mart Drags Dow Jones Industrial Average Below 17,000

Wal-Mart Sinks Dow; Plus, the SanDisk Love Triangle

Oct 14, 2015 at 12:01 PM
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After an ambiguous start, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) has conceded to the downside. The big-cap barometer is off more than 100 points -- and below the key 17,000 level -- with retail heavyweight Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) plummeting to new lows on uninspiring guidance. Disappointing data abroad and at home is also weighing on stocks, with retail sales, business inventories, and the producer price index (PPI) all leaving much to be desired. Elsewhere, the S&P 500 Index (SPX) has breached the closely watched 2,000 mark

Continue reading for more on today's market -- and don't miss:

 



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Among the stocks with notable call volume is biotech Zafgen Inc (NASDAQ:ZFGN). The stock is extending Tuesday's sell-off, down 0.8% at $15.63 -- and just off a record low of $14.76 -- but option traders remain hopeful. Calls are changing hands at seven times the normal rate, with traders seemingly buying to open the October 17.50 call, meaning they expect a short-term rebound for the stock. 

One of the top gainers on the Nasdaq is online travel portal Tripadvisor Inc (NASDAQ:TRIP). The shares have jumped 18.1% to $78.77, on news of a major partnership with Priceline Group Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN). Today's price action has TRIP back in the black on a year-to-date basis, and above its 200-day moving average for the first time since late July. 


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Among the biggest losers on the Big Board is entertainment stock World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE). The shares are off 7.2% at $18.70 on no apparent news. WWE has been a technical wonder, picking up over 63% in 2015 before today's open. 

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is 0.8 point, or 4.4%, higher, though it topped out right at its 10-day moving average. 

Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.57, with puts outnumbering calls. The SPY was last seen 0.8 point, or 0.4%, lower at $199.40. 

 

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