Stocks Headed for a Higher Finish

Stocks are headed for a higher finish in trading today after Thursday’s huge sell-off. Stocks have fluctuated between gains and losses through the day, however, all three major indexes are now firmly in green. Despite today’s gains, there is still lot of uncertainty about the global economy.

In late trading, the Dow Jones is up 0.45% to 10,782.30, the S&P 500 is up 0.73% to 1,137.67, and the Nasdaq is up 1.12% to 2,483.22.

Basic Materials stocks have remained in red in late trading today. At last check, Basic Materials stocks were trading 0.64% lower. Consumer Cyclical stocks are continuing to lead the gains in the S&P 500 in late trading. At last check, Consumer Cyclical stocks were trading 1.71% higher. Transportation stocks have also rebounded sharply after Thursday’s sell-off. At last check, Transportation stocks were trading 1.26% higher.

Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) shares have been among the major gainers in trading today. The stock is rising after the sporting goods company reported strong quarterly results. Nike shares rose to an intra-day high of $89.99, and are currently trading 5.41% higher at $88.73.

American Medical Alert Corp. (NASDAQ: AMAC) shares are also soaring in trading today after the company agreed to be acquired by Tunstall Healthcare Group Limited. American Medical Alert shares are currently trading 47.45% higher at $8.39. The stock touched a 52-week high of $0.40 earlier today.

Other major gainers in late trading include Harleysville Group Inc. (NASDAQ: HGIC), which is currently trading 18.95% higher at $30.13, DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH), which is currently trading 5.93% higher at $26.91, and PNM Resources Inc. (NYSE: PNM), which is currently trading 16.19% higher at $15.93.

Among the major losers in late trading are Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ), which is currently trading 2.26% lower at $22.28, and Range Resources Corp. (NYSE: RRC), which is currently trading 11.86% lower at $58.26.

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.