Month: May 2014

May 25. 2014

Market Review

The U.S. stock market finished the week with solid gains, sending the S&P 500 to a new record high. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7 percent to 16,606.27. The blue-chip index turned positive for the year. The S&P 500 advanced 1.2 percent over the week, breaching the 1,900-point mark for the first time to end on 1,900.53. The Nasdaq rose 2.3 percent over the past five days to 4185.81. Among the key S&P sectors, technology was the best weekly performer, while utilities dragged. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, VIX, dropped 8.7 percent during the five days to 11.36, the lowest level since March 2013. Wall Street's fear gauge has retreated 47 percent from a 14-month high in February. Read More

May 18. 2014

Market Review

The three major U.S. averages finished another week with a mixed performance. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.6 percent during the week to finish at 16,491.31. The blue-chip index notched a new record during the week. The S&P 500 declined less than 0.1 percent from the week ago close to end at 1,877.86. It also touched record levels during the week. The Nasdaq gained 0.5 percent over the week and ended at 4,090.59. Among key S&P sectors, technology and health care led the gainers. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (VIX), a gauge for U.S. stock volatility known as the VIX, dropped 5.5 percent to 12.44. The measure lost 3.7 percent during the week. Read More

May 11. 2014

Market Review

All three major U.S. averages finished the week with a mixed performance. The Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a 0.4 percent gain over the week to close at 16,583.34. The S&P 500 lost 0.1 percent from the week ago close and finished at 1,878.48. The Nasdaq dropped 1.3 percent to 4,071.87; its worst week in a month. Among the key S&P sectors, consumer staples were the best weekly performer, while utilities dragged. The CBOE Volatility Index or the VIX, Wall Street's fear gauge, finished at 12.92. Read More

May 04. 2014

Market Review

All three U.S. major averages posted modest gains for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.9 percent to finish the week at 16,512.89. The blue-chip index closed at a record on April 30 and is down about 0.4 percent in the year-to-date. The S&P 500 increased 1.0 percent to 1,881.14 for the week. The benchmark index for American equities has climbed 1.8 percent this year. The Nasdaq gained 1.2 percent over the week to 4,123.90. Most key S&P sectors finished higher, led by technology, while utilities ended in the red. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, the gauge of S&P 500 options known as the VIX, closed at 12.91. Read More