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Dow Jones Industrial Average Ends Lower as Volatility Ramps Up

What Today's VIX Spike Means for the S&P

Apr 11, 2017 at 4:27 PM
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down 145 points at its intraday low -- while the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) surged to levels not seen since November -- as growing tension with Russia and North Korea stoked a risk-off backdrop. However, stocks began paring losses around midday, after President Donald Trump told a group of CEOs that his administration was planning a "major elimination" of Dodd-Frank. Though the Dow made a brief appearance on the positive side of the ledger, the blue-chip barometer eventually settled in the red, with Apple stock leading the path lower.
  
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

  • What today's VIX spike means for the S&P.
  • Options traders have been scooping up calls on red-hot Plug Power stock.
  • The rookie energy stock receiving rave reviews from analysts.
  • Plus, United stock tumbles; why we didn't trade this Dow stock; and breaking down the Tesla volatility pop.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 20,651.30) closed down 6.7 points, or 0.03%. Seventeen of the Dow's 30 stocks settled in the red, paced by 1.1% declines on AAPL and DuPont stocks. McDonald's led the 13 advancers with its 0.9% gain.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,353.78) settled on a 3.4-point, or 0.1%, loss, while the Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 5,866.77) gave back 14.2 points, or 0.2%.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 15.07) topped out at an intraday peak of 15.88, before settling up 1 point, or 7.3%. Today marked the VIX's first close north of 15 since Nov. 8.

closing indexes summary april 11
nyse and nasdaq stats april 11

5 Items on Our Radar Today

  1. In a question-and-answer session at the University of Michigan last night, Fed Chair Janet Yellen said the U.S. economy was "pretty healthy," while the global economy also appeared "slightly more robust and healthier." Additionally, she noted that the role of the Federal Reserve will be to "try to set monetary policy to sustain what we have achieved." (The New York Times)
  2. RetailMeNot stock rose 48%, after the online coupon concern said it would be bought out by Harland Clarke Holdings for $11.60 per share. The deal is expected to be closed in the current quarter. (MarketWatch)
  3. United stock succumbed to backlash over a passenger that was forcibly removed from an overbooked flight, plunging 1%.
  4. Schaeffer's Senior Equity Analyst Joe Bell, CMT, gave 3 reasons why he didn't recommend buying calls on Procter & Gamble.
  5. Founder and CEO Bernie Schaeffer takes a closer look at Tesla's volatility spike, which came courtesy of bullish price action.

unusual options activity april 11
Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Commodities

Oil prices swung to a sixth straight win, amid reports Saudi Arabia has said it wants to extend cuts made to crude oil production by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC members past June. May-dated crude climbed 32 cents, or 0.6%, to close at $53.40 per barrel.

Gold benefited from its safe-haven status, as well as a weaker U.S. dollar. By the close, gold for June delivery was up $20.30, or 1.6%, at $1,274.20 an ounce -- its loftiest settlement since early November.
 

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