Month: August 2014

August 31. 2014

Market Review

U.S. stocks finished the week with solid gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.6 percent from the week-ago close to 17,098.45. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8 percent for the week to 2003.37. Both, the S&P and the Dow notched for their fourth up week in a row. The Nasdaq gained 0.9 percent over the week to 4,580.2, up 4.8 percent for August. Utilities led gainers among the S&P?s 10 major sectors. The CBOE Volatility Index, a measure of investor uncertainty, ended at 11.98. Read More

August 24. 2014

Market Review

U.S. stocks finished another week of gains, with the S&P 500 reaching an all-time high. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 338.31 points, or 2 percent, to 17,001.22. The S&P 500 advanced 1.7 percent to 1,988.40 for the five days. The benchmark index closed at a record high of 1,992.37 on Aug. 21. The Nasdaq added 1.7 percent from the week earlier and finished at 4,538.55. Among the key S&P sectors, financials were the best weekly performer, while energy dragged. The CBOE Volatility Index, a measure of investor uncertainty, dropped to 11.47. Read More

August 17. 2014

Market Review

U.S. stocks finished the week with solid gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.7 percent in five trading days to end at 16,662.91. The blue-chip index recorded its best weekly gain in five weeks. The S&P 500 gained 1.2 percent over the week to close at 1,955.06. The benchmark index for American equities had its best weekly gain since July 3. The Nasdaq soared 2.2 percent to 4,464.93. The tech-heavy index recorded its best week since May. Among the key S&P sectors, health care was the best weekly performer, while energy dragged. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, a gauge of options prices known as VIX, lost 17 percent for the week and ended at 13.15. Read More

August 10. 2014

Market Review

All three U.S. major averages posted modest gains for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.3 percent from the prior Friday's close to end at 16,553.93. On Friday, the blue-chip index had its biggest one-day percentage gain in more than 4 months. The S&P 500 added 0.3 percent for the week as well to close at 1,931.59. The Nasdaq climbed 0.4 percent in five days to 4,370.90. Most key S&P sectors ended in positive territory for the week, led by materials. The CBOE Volatility Index, a measure of investor uncertainty, finished at 15.77. Read More

August 03. 2014

Market Review

U.S. stocks finished the week with deep losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 2.8 percent over the week to 16,493.37. The blue-chip index suffered its biggest decline since the week ended Jan. 24. The S&P 500 dropped 2.7 percent for the week to finish at 1,925.15, its largest percentage drop since the week ended June 1, 2012. The benchmark index is now off 3.2 percent from its July 24 record close. The Nasdaq shed 2.2 percent for the week to end at 4,352.64. Among the key S&P sectors, health care was the best weekly performer, while energy dragged. The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, a measure of investor uncertainty, jumped to 17.03. Read More