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Dow Jones Industrial Average Soars 165; S&P Tops 2,100

5 Stocks Making Moves on Merger Monday

Nov 2, 2015 at 4:20 PM
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On the heels of a banner month, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) kicked off November in bullish form, rising triple digits. Meanwhile, an energy rally helped the broader S&P 500 Index (SPX) topple the round 2,100 level for the first time since mid-August -- potentially setting up the benchmark for a run at all-time highs. Adding to the risk-on sentiment was a raft of M&A activity, and a monthly climb in construction spending to its highest level since March 2008

Continue reading for more on today's market, including

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 17,828.76) headed higher out of the gate and never looked back, finishing on a lead of 165.2 points, or 0.9%. Twenty-five of the Dow's 30 components ended on a gain, led by Chevron Corporation's (NYSE:CVX) 4.5% pop. Visa Inc (NYSE:V) paced the five blue-chip decliners, shedding 3.1% after its earnings miss. Thanks to today's gain, the Dow is back in positive territory for 2015.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,104.05) tacked on 24.7 points, or 1.2%, finishing above the round 2,100 level for the first time since Aug. 17. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 5,127.15) outdid its peers, barreling 73.4 points, or 1.5%, higher.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 14.15) slid 0.9 point, or 6.1%, to notch its lowest close since mid-August.

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5 Items on Our Radar Today:

  1. Volkswagen came under fire again, as the Environmental Protection Agency issued the automaker a second violation. Another 10,000 vehicles were added to the list of over 11 million affected by VW's installation of software designed to cheat emissions tests. (CNBC)
  2. According to the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index, small business borrowing was up in September. The index, which hit a record high in June, showed an 11% increase over this time last year. (Reuters, via Yahoo! Finance)
  3. It was a rough day for the shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), after an E. coli outbreak forced the burrito giant to shut down restaurants in two states.
  4. After weeks of trouble, Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX) tried to stage a recovery in the face of more analyst pessimism
  5. A real-life murder mystery found a new streaming home -- and sent the shares of this Internet radio company soaring


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Commodities:

December crude oil gave up 45 cents, or 1%, closing at $46.14 a barrel, thanks to weak factory data out of China and increased production from Russia. 

Gold hit a four-week low, with the December contract closing at $1,135.90 an ounce, a loss of $5.50, or 0.5%. Hawkish notes from last week's Fed meeting are still weighing on the commodity, which failed to respond to a slightly weaker dollar today. 

 

AI has exploded ever since ChatGPT set the world on fire near the end of 2022.

Numerous companies with connections to artificial intelligence have seen their stocks soar.

That includes Nvidia, the poster boy of AI.

Its stock has skyrocketed 716% since ChatGPT’s debut. But here’s the thing …

While everyone’s still counting their money from this first AI boom … Nvidia and countless others have moved on to the next stage.

That includes Big Tech, which is currently making a series of peculiar investments in a few strange companies. This has nothing to do with tech. At least on the surface …

Yet, these strange investments could be the early ripples of a massive wave …Without them, ChatGPT could stop operating … Amazon, Google, Microsoft and more could see profits drop drastically.

In fact, Elon Musk says these investments are critical when it comes to solving the number one problem facing AI.

Now, Silicon Valley legend Michael Robinson has identified two companies that could play a significant role in the solution.

Their stocks just may be the key to AI 2.0.

Find out more about these two companies today.
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