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Dow Jones Industrial Average Snaps Losing Streak as Trump Swears In

14 Stocks to Avoid Next Week; Plus, One Indicator's Biggest Jump Since Brexit

Jan 20, 2017 at 4:22 PM
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After starting the day on a strong foot, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) enjoyed a triple-digit lead, but pared its gains after President Donald Trump took the stage to deliver his inaugural address. Still, the blue-chip index remained in positive territory, snapping a five-day losing streak, even as stocks saw choppy trading through the afternoon. Well-received earnings from a pair of Dow components, as well as a solid day for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), overshadowed disappointing results for General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) and American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), and the large-cap barometer ultimately outperformed its index peers.
 
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 19,827.25) tacked on 94.9 points, or 0.5%, with MRK leading 24 of the 30 components higher on a 3.6% gain. GE tracked the six laggards, giving up 2.2% after a disappointing turn in the earnings confessional. For the week, however, the Dow surrendered 0.3%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,271.31) climbed 7.6 points, or 0.3% for the day, but lost 0.2% on a weekly basis. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 5,555.33) added 15.3 points, or 0.3% for the sessions, paring its weekly losses to 0.3%.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 11.54) fell 1.2 points, or 9.7%. For the week, though, the fear index climbed 2.8%.

indexes january 20
NYSE and Nasdaq January 20

5 Items on Our Radar Today

  1. Today's news was understandably headlined by the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who was sworn in as the nation's 45th president around noon ET. Before and after the ceremony, protesters took to the streets, clashing with police, causing damage to commercial property, and resulting in 95 arrests, thus far. (CNBC)
  2. Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman made a court appearance in Brooklyn, New York, today, pleading "not guilty" to 17 charges relating to his alleged decades of running the largest drug cartel in the world. If found guilty, Guzman is facing life in prison as a minimum sentence. (Reuters)
  3. Why F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) could be headed higher next week.
  4. The Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) supplier at annual highs after earnings.
  5. Options traders bet on a post-earnings rally for McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD).

Quarterly earnings January 20
Unusual options activity january 20
Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Commodities:

While Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members prepared for a weekend meeting in Vienna to check in on compliance with agreed-upon production cuts, oil prices rose on upbeat comments from Saudi Arabia's energy minister. Traders seemingly shrugged off Bakers Hughes data showing a 14-month high in active U.S. rigs. February-dated crude ended the day up $1.05, or 2%, at $52.42 per barrel. For the week, oil tacked on just 0.1%.

Gold prices rose throughout the session, moving sharply higher at Donald Trump's inauguration speech, as the strength of the dollar dipped and stocks pared some early gains. Gold for February delivery added $3.40, or 0.3%, to end at $1,204.90 an ounce, bringing its weekly gain to 0.7%. It was the malleable metal's fourth straight weekly rise.

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