The DJIA is edging higher, thanks to another bounce in crude oil prices
The
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is modestly higher after earlier
touching the key 18,000 level for the second straight day, with healthcare stock UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) in the lead. Stocks are getting a lift from a tumbling U.S. dollar and
rising oil prices. Specifically, July-dated crude futures have tacked on 0.8% at $50.78 per barrel, following a 3.2 million barrel draw in domestic crude inventories. In other economic news, the Labor Department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) revealed 5.8 million job openings in April, or slightly more than expected.
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Among the stocks with accelerated call volume is
Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL), with the contracts crossing at nearly twice the usual intraday pace. The
weekly 6/10 series is extremely popular, and buy-to-open activity may be transpiring at the 740-strike call. At last check, GOOGL stock is 1.5% higher at $741.75.
The hardest-hit stock on the New York Stock Exchange is
VeriFone Systems Inc (NYSE:PAY), after a downwardly revised earnings forecast was met with
negative analyst attention. At last check, PAY stock has slumped 28.7% at $20.12, and earlier touched a two-year low of $19.71.
The top stock on the Nasdaq is
Skullcandy Inc (NASDAQ:SKUL), up 16.3% at $4.57. Triggering the gains were reports of a
potential takeover effort, and an investment from private equity shop Ptarmagin LLC.
The
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is off 0.01 point, or 0.1%, at 14.04.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.43, with puts outpacing calls. At last check, SPY has added 0.6 point, or 0.3%, at $212.26.
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