Oil Win Helps Dow Jones Industrial Average Swing Higher

The Junk Bond ETF Getting Iced; Plus, 3 Hot Solar Stocks

Dec 14, 2015 at 4:25 PM
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down triple digits this morning, but clawed its way higher as oil shook off early losses to post its first win in more than a week. Meanwhile, traders continue to cast a wary eye at Wednesday's Fed meeting, where an interest rate hike is expected to be announced. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) managed to hold its place above the round-number 2,000 level, while the the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) backpedaled from an area of historical significance.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 17,368.50) explored a range of 240 points on both sides of breakeven, before eventually resolving to the upside, adding 103.3 points, or 0.6%, by the close. Energy giants Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) and Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) paced the 22 winners on the blue-chip index, adding 3.3% and 2.3%, respectively. DuPont (NYSE:DD) once again led the seven laggards, dropping 3.6%, while General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) finished flat.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,021.94) also reversed higher in afternoon trading, climbing 9.6 points, or 0.5% for the day. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 4,952.23) rose 18.8 points, or 0.4%.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 22.73) touched an intraday high of 26.81 -- territory not charted since late September -- but eventually slipped 1.7 points, or 6.8%.

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5 Items on Our Radar Today:

  1. President Obama spoke to reporters at the Pentagon, announcing that he is sending Defense Secretary Ash Carter to the Middle East to secure military help from partners in that region. The president stressed that progress against ISIS needs to be happening faster. (Reuters)

  2. After calling the offer "grossly inadequate" last week, Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE:NSC) officially rejected the latest buyout offer from Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (USA) (NYSE:CP). Norfolk Southern CEO Jim Squires told Canadian Pacific that the takeover was "not in the best interest of the company and its shareholders." (USA Today)

  3. Notes from Morgan Stanley sent GPRO and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) reeling.

  4. This energy company is on the hunt for new leadership, after sending its CEO packing.

  5. Bullish interest from options traders ramped up on these 2 slumping stocks.


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Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Commodities:

After dipping below $35 per barrel in early trading -- and touching a fresh multi-year low -- oil bounced back to notch its first win in seven sessions. By the close, January-dated crude was up 69 cents, or 1.9%, at $36.31 per barrel, shrugging off initial weakness from a global climate deal in Paris.

Gold, on the other hand, moved lower due to a stronger dollar and expectations for a December Fed rate hike. Gold for February delivery gave up $12.30, or 1.1%, to end at $1,063.40 an ounce. March-dated silver, meanwhile, dropped to a fresh six-year low of $13.694 an ounce.

 

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