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Stocks Snag Fourth Straight Monthly Win

Oil marked its fourth straight monthly gain

Managing Editor
Apr 30, 2019 at 4:34 PM
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U.S. stocks closed mostly higher in today's trading, with the Dow gaining on post-earnings lifts from big-cap pharma firms Pfizer (PFE) and Merck (MRK). The S&P 500 also managed a win, settling at a new record close. On the flip side, tech stocks sank as Alphabet (GOOGL) led the Nasdaq lower on the Google parent's disappointing first-quarter revenue results. Meanwhile all three indexes grabbed a fourth straight monthly gain, with the SPX and IXIC seeing their best months since January.

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

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 26,592.91) added 38.5 points, or 0.2%, in today's trading. Pfizer was the best of the 20 Dow gainers, adding 2.6%, while on the flip side, Apple (AAPL) outpaced the 10 losers with a 1.9% pullback. For the month, the index added an impressive 2.6%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,945.83) scraped together a 2.8 point, or 0.1%, win. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,107.77lost 54.1 points, or 0.7%. On a monthly basis, the indexes gained 4% and 4.9%, respectively.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 13.12) gained 0.01 point, or 0.08%. For April, the market's "fear gauge" shed 4.3%, its fourth monthly loss in a row.

closing indexes summary april 30

nyse and nasdaq stats april 30

5 Items on our Radar Today

  1. E-tail giant Amazon (AMZN) has been quietly running an online site to pair shipping companies with truck drivers, expediting freight service between warehouses. The service is only available in Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and remains in beta testing. (CNBC)
  2. In an effort to push user engagement, Facebook (FB) revamped its social media app, and also added access to a new dating feature to users in Brazil, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia. The tech giant also revealed impending updates to its Marketplace sector. (Reuters)
  3. Jefferies raised its rating to "buy" on this flooring stock.
  4. Analyst: This Apple supplier can surge 23%
  5. Ford analyst delivers bull note after Amazon buzz. 

corporate earnings april 30

unusual options activity april 30

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Gold Marks Third Straight Monthly Loss

Oil closed higher on rising political tensions in Venezuela and buzz the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) may extend crude output cuts through the end of the year. June-dated crude futures added 41 cents, or 0.7%, to close at $63.91 per barrel for the day. For April, crude tacked on a notable 6.3% -- its fourth straight monthly gain.

Although gold futures closed higher on the day thanks to a weakening greenback, the precious metal was not so lucky for the month. Specifically, June-dated gold added $4.20 or 0.3%, to settle at $1,285.70 per ounce in today's session, but gold prices fell 0.8% for April -- their third straight monthly loss.

 

AI has exploded ever since ChatGPT set the world on fire near the end of 2022.

Numerous companies with connections to artificial intelligence have seen their stocks soar.

That includes Nvidia, the poster boy of AI.

Its stock has skyrocketed 716% since ChatGPT’s debut. But here’s the thing …

While everyone’s still counting their money from this first AI boom … Nvidia and countless others have moved on to the next stage.

That includes Big Tech, which is currently making a series of peculiar investments in a few strange companies. This has nothing to do with tech. At least on the surface …

Yet, these strange investments could be the early ripples of a massive wave …Without them, ChatGPT could stop operating … Amazon, Google, Microsoft and more could see profits drop drastically.

In fact, Elon Musk says these investments are critical when it comes to solving the number one problem facing AI.

Now, Silicon Valley legend Michael Robinson has identified two companies that could play a significant role in the solution.

Their stocks just may be the key to AI 2.0.

Find out more about these two companies today.
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