Dow Closes Higher After Retail Sales, Blue-Chip Earnings

Oil surged while gold fell to its fourth straight weekly loss

Emma Duncan

Managing Editor

Apr 18, 2019 at 4:34 PM

Stocks closed higher on the last day of the holiday-shortened week, with the Dow notching a triple-digit gain on the back of outperforming blue chips and better-than-expected March retail sales data. Specifically, Travelers (TRV) and American Express (AXP) both traded near the top of the Dow after earnings. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended in positive territory, too, though gains were kept in check as Wall Street weighed the Mueller report, which identified potential obstruction of justice on the part of U.S. President Donald Trump.

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

Analyst: Buy Yelp while it's on sale.
Proposed tobacco bill sent bulls to Altria stock.
Plus, one analyst leans bullish toward golf; the China stock flashing buy; and why Starbucks is still hip.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 26,559.54) added 110 points, or 0.4%. UnitedHealth (UNH) and Travelers (TRV) outpaced the 18 Dow gainers, adding 2.3% apiece. Pfizer (PFE) paced the 12 losers with its 1.3% drop. On the week, the DJI added 0.6%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,905.03) scraped together 4.6 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 7,998.06) tacked on 2 points, or 0.02%. For this week's trading, the SPX shed 0.08%, and the IXIC added 0.1%.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 12.09) lost 0.5 point, or 4%. For the week, the VIX edged 0.7% higher.

closing indexes summary april 18

nyse and nasdaq april 18

5 Items on our Radar Today

Six months after filing for bankruptcy, embattled retailer Sears is suing former CEO Eddie Lampert and a number of old board members. Notably on that list is current Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Lampert, who was previously the company's largest shareholder, and the former board members are accused of stealing more than $2 billion in assets. (CNBC)
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo today said Netflix (NFLX) will be adding a production hub in New York City, creating a potential 127 high-paying jobs (and possibly thousands of production crew positions) over the next several years. NFLX stock closed up 1.6% at $360.35. (MarketWatch)
Why one analyst is bullish on these 2 golf stocks.
The China stock flashing buy before earnings.
Starbucks is still hip to one brokerage firm.

unusual options activity april 18

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Oil Marks Seventh Straight Weekly Win

Oil rose on the day and week, after data showed the U.S. rig count declined for the first time in three weeks and Saudi Arabia crude shipments declined in February. May-dated crude added 24 cents, or 0.4%, settling at $64 per barrel. For the week, oil added 0.2%, and marked its seventh straight gain -- its longest streak in five years.

Gold fell as strong March retail sales data strengthened the greenback. June-dated gold closed down 80 cents at $1,276 per ounce. This marked another fresh 2019 low for the precious metal, and a weekly fall of 1.5% -- its fourth consecutive weekly decline.

Follow @Schaeffers

Two High-Octane Trade Ideas. One Simple Goal: Intraday Profits.

Dynamite Day Trading Signals delivers two same-day options trades every week — powered by proprietary intraday analysis and 43+ years of trading expertise.

But this isn’t just another stream of alerts.

It’s a structured plan with clear entry and exit points – designed for traders who want to act fast, trade smart, and wrap up gains before the closing bell.

No guesswork. No overnight exposure – Just two well-researched setups per week — whether you prefer buying premium or selling it.

And the results speak for themselves: subscribers have locked in +245.8% total profit over the last six months (since inception!).

👉 Start your one-month trial now for just $10, and be ready for the next trade alert.