Stocks Continue to Struggle for Direction After Fed Meeting

The central bank kept interest rates near zero

Deputy Editor
Apr 28, 2021 at 4:37 PM
facebook twitter linkedin


The Dow closed 164 points lower today, after the Federal Reserve ended its two-day policy meeting, in which the central bank kept interest rates near zero, as expected. Though inflation pressures could trickle in, Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that economic recovery is “uneven and far from complete.” After a somewhat volatile day, the S&P 500 Index dipped from its intraday high to land in the red alongside the Nasdaq. Stocks still appear to be struggling for direction this week, but all eyes remain on earnings from Big Tech giants Apple (AAPL) and Facebook (FB) after the close. 

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

  • Blue-chip airliner still struggling to beat profit expectations. 
  • SBUX sees options surge after mixed quarterly report
  • Plus, GT's fundamentals; bulls target chip stock; and the payment technology name making partnerships.  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 33,820.38) fell 164.6 points, or 0.5%. Chevron (CVX) topped the list of blue chips for the second-straight day with a 2.4% gain, while Amgen (AMGN) landed at the bottom after dropping 7.4%. 

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 4,183.18) dipped 3.5 points, or 0.08%, while the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 14,051.03) lost 39.2 points or 0.3%.

Lastly, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 17.28) lost 0.3 point, or 1.6% for the day.

Closing Indexes Summary April 28

NYSE and Nasdaq Stats April 28

  1. Tesla (TSLA) is defending itself in both the U.S. and Germany against environmental rule violations(CNBC)
  2. According to a recent report, several U.S. companies went back to this this old habit during the pandemic. (Marketwatch)
  3. A look at GT's post-earnings history
  4. Chip name attracts analyst attention after its quarterly report.  
  5. Why bulls targeted this dow stock.

Earnings April 28

Unusual Options Activity April 28

Oil Prices Settle at Six-Week High

Oil prices closed at their highest level since mid-March, extending yesterday's gains on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) meeting. June-dated crude rose 92 cents, or 1.5%, to settle at $63.86 a barrel. 

Gold futures finished lower for their second-straight session, with pressure from rising bond yields. June-dated gold lost $4.90, or 0.3%, to settle at $1,773.90 an ounce.  

 

Minimize Risk While Maximizing Profits

There is no options strategy like this one, which consistently minimizes risk while maintaining maximum profits. Perfect for traders looking for ways to control risk, reduce losses, and increase the likelihood of success when trading calls and puts. The Schaeffer’s team has over 41 years of options trading success targeting +100% gains on every trade. Rest assured your losses are effectively limited to your initial cost at the time of making your move! Don't waste another second... join us right now before the next trade is released! 

 


 


 
Special Offers from Schaeffer's Trading Partners