Chip stocks were an outperformers in today's trading
U.S. stocks finished a choppy trading day higher, with Wall Street optimistic a U.S.-China trade deal is within reach. This, alongside strength in the tech sector, had stocks brushing off a dreary update on private payrolls. By the close, the Dow had muscled higher, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq brought their daily win streak to five.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 26,218.13) added 39 points, or 0.2%. DowDuPont (DWDP) paced the 16 advancing blue chips with a 2.3% gain, while Boeing (BA) took the biggest hit, shedding 1.5%. McDonald's (MCD) ended the day flat.
The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,873.40) closed up 6.2 points, or 0.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 7,895.55) added 46.8 points, or 0.6%.
The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 13.74) picked up 0.4 point, or 2.8%.
5 Items on our Radar Today
- Amid increased scrutiny of tech companies, Amazon.com (AMZN) said it has eased back on promoting its private-label products, while also relocating promotions to less-prominent areas of its website. This follows recent criticisms from Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who called AMZN's advertising tactics for its own products a "conflict of interest." (CNBC)
- Investigators for the late-October Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 crash have linked a faulty sensor repair to a Florida shop prior the incident. While there's no evidence the same repair shop worked on the Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 that crashed last month, maintenance and pilot actions are being investigated. (Bloomberg)
- This metals stock surged after the company hiked its forecast.
- Urban Outfitters stock eyes 8th straight win.
- This energy stock sailed to the top of the Nasdaq today.
Data courtesy of Trade-Alert
Gold Finishes Flat, Oil Snaps Win Streak
A surprise rise in domestic crude inventories sent oil lower, to snap its three-day win streak. The May-dated contract closed 12 cents, or 0.2%, lower, at $62.46 per barrel.
Optimism around U.S.-China trade negotiations kept a lid on gold futures. The June-dated contract closed down 10 cents at $1,295.30 per ounce.