Month: March 2014

March 30. 2014

Market Review

All three major U.S. averages finished the week with a mixed performance. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was the only major US index to end the week in positive territory. The blue-chip index eked out a small gain of 0.1 percent for the week to close at 16,323.06. The S&P 500 recorded a 0.5 percent loss for the week to finish at 1,857.62. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.8 percent from the week ago close to 4,155.76, its worst performance since October 2012. Among the key S&P sectors, energy and utilities were the best weekly performer. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, finished near 14. Read More

March 23. 2014

Market Review

U.S. stocks rose for the week, sending the major indexes to their biggest gains in a month. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 237.10 points, or 1.5 percent, to 16,302.77. The S&P 500 rose 1.4 percent to 1,866.52 over the five days. Both gauges capped their best week since Feb. 14. The Nasdaq Composite added a weekly gain of 0.7 percent to 4,276.79. Financials led gainers among the S&P?s 10 major sectors. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (VIX), a gauge for U.S. stock volatility, fell the most since February, sinking 16 percent to 15 for the week. The index, also known as VIX, is still up 9.3 percent this year. Read More

March 16. 2014

Market Review

U.S. stocks ended the week with deep losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2.4 percent from the week-ago close to 16,065.67. The S&P 500 recorded a 2 percent loss over the week and finished at 1,790.29. Both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones suffered their worst week since late January. The Nasdaq Composite shed 2.1 percent over the past week to 4,245.40, its first weekly decline in six and the worst since April 2013. Utilities and consumer staples led gainers among the S&P?s 10 major sectors. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, a gauge for U.S. stock volatility, rose 26 percent for the week to 17.82. The measure has advanced 30 percent this year. Read More

March 09. 2014

Market Review

All three major U.S. averages finished the week with solid gains. For the week the Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a gain of 0.8 percent to end at 16,414.91. The S&P 500 added 1 percent for the week to finish at 1,790.29. Both the Dow and the S&P 500 logged their second straight week of gains. The Nasdaq advanced 0.7 percent from the week-ago close to 4,336.22, its fifth straight weekly advance. Financials and industrials led gainers among the S&P?s 10 major sectors. The CBOE Volatility Index or the VIX, Wall Street's fear gauge, finished at 13.98. Read More

March 02. 2014

Market Review

U.S. stocks finished the week with solid gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.4 percent from the week-ago close to 16,321.71. The blue-chip index saw a February rise of 4 percent, its largest monthly percentage gain since January 2013. After advancing to an intraday record of 1,867.92 on Friday, the S&P 500 climbed 1.3 percent for the week to 1,859.45. The broad index capped its third weekly gain this month and gained 4.3 percent for the month. The Nasdaq gained 1.6 percent over the week to 4,308.11. The technology-laden index rose 5 percent over the course of the month, its biggest monthly gain since September 2013. Materials and consumer staples led gainers among the S&P?s 10 major sectors. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index slipped 4.6 percent for the week to 14. Read More