Stocks Lower in Early Trading

Stocks are lower in early trading today as investors assess latest data from the labor market. A report released by the Labor Department today showed that the number of Americans seeking jobless claims remained unchanged last week.

According to figures released by the Labor Department, initial jobless claims remained 351,000 last week.

At last check, the Dow Jones was trading 0.38% lower at 12,889.55, the S&P 500 was trading 0.26% lower at 1,354.08, and the Nasdaq was trading 0.09% lower at 2,930.45.

Technology stocks are leading the losses in the S&P 500 in early trading. At last check, Technology stocks were trading 0.62% lower. Conglomerates are also down sharply in early trading. At last check, Conglomerates were trading 0.56% lower. Basic Materials stocks are down 0.47% currently, while Energy stocks are down 0.43% currently. Healthcare stocks have been the best performers in the S&P 500 in early trading, up 0.20% currently.

Among the major gainers and losers in early trading today are Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ), which is currently trading 7.19% lower at $26.86, VIVUS Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS), which is currently trading 95.26% higher at $20.60, Helmerich & Payne Inc. (NYSE: HP), which is currently trading 1.73% lower at $62.01, Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR), which is currently trading 5.45% higher at $63.65, Boston Beer Co. Inc. (NYSE: SAM), which is currently trading 7.73% lower at $96.50, 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD), which is currently trading 17.25% higher at $24.54, and Polypore International Inc. (NYSE: PPO), which is currently trading 14.87% lower at $37.05.

European markets are mostly lower in intra-day trading. At last check, the FTSE 100 Index in London was down 0.18% to 5,906.10, and the CAC 40 Index in Paris was down 0.56% to 3,428.20. Earlier, Asian markets had ended mostly higher overnight.

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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.