Stocks End Lower; Post Losses for May
Stocks ended lower in trading today as ongoing worries about the euro zone debt crisis and some weak U.S. economic data weighed down investors’ sentiment. All three major indexes also posted losses for the month of May.
The Dow Jones ended the day 0.21% lower at 12,393.45, the S&P 500 ended the day 0.23% lower at 1,310.33, and the Nasdaq ended the day 0.35% lower at 2,827.34. For the month of May, the Dow Jones fell 6.21%, the S&P 500 fell 6.27%, and the Nasdaq fell 7.19%.
Stocks came under pressure in May due to heightened worries about the euro zone debt crisis. The concerns were raised earlier this month by political uncertainty in Greece. Investors are worried about a possible Greek exit from the euro zone. Meanwhile, there are also concerns about Spain’s banking system.
Industrials were the worst performers in the S&P 500 in trading today. The sector ended the day 1% lower. Basic Materials also fell sharply, ending the day 0.47% lower. Energy sector ended the day 0.37% lower. Technology sector closed 0.45% lower. Transportation sector was the best performer in the S&P 500 today, ending the day 0.70% higher.
Among the major gainers and losers in trading today were Joy Global Inc. (NYSE: JOY), which ended the day 5.12% lower at $55.86, Vera Bradley Inc. (NASDAQ: VRA), which ended the day 2.28% lower at $21.87, Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB), which ended the day 5.11% higher at $29.63, Gaylord Entertainment Company (NYSE: GET), which ended the day 10.06% higher at $37.95, and Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: SNTA), which ended the day 15.63% higher at $4.81.
Investors are now focusing on the all-important nonfarm payrolls for the month of May, which will be released by the Labor Department on Friday. Economists expect nonfarm payrolls to rise 150,000 in May.
More Posts by this author
Stocks Headed for a Sharply Lower Finish
Gold and Silver Prices in Green
U.S. Equities Hammered After Dismal U.S. Job Report
Splunk Inc. – SPLK – First quarter was a strong start to fiscal 2013
Esterline Corporation – ESL – Solid performance by Sensors & Systems and Advanced Materials segments
OmniVision Technologies – OVTI – For the second consecutive quarter revenues exceeded the high-end of guidance
Vera Bradley – VRA – Achieved double digit net revenue growth for the seventh straight quarter
Post Written By: Ed Liston
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht. |