Stocks Open Higher
Stocks have opened higher in trading today, following some positive developments in the euro zone. Investors’ sentiment was lifted today after European Commissioner Olli Rehn said that European leaders are close to reaching a plan for stabilizing the euro zone.
Rehn’s, whose comments came during a speech in Dublin, boosted investors’ confidence even as Slovakia voted against raising the size of the euro zone bailout fund on Tuesday. Slovakia is the only euro zone member to vote against raising the fund. The country will vote for a second time later this week.
The developments in the euro zone have also overshadowed a weak start to earnings season in the U.S. All three major indexes have opened higher today. The Dow Jones opened higher at 11,417.36, the S&P 500 opened higher at 1,196.19, and the Nasdaq opened higher at 2,606.61. At last check, the Dow Jones was trading 0.81% higher at 11,508.97, the S&P 500 was trading 1.02% higher at 1,207.78, and the Nasdaq was trading 1.14% higher at 2,612.45.
All sectors in the S&P 500 have opened higher in trading today. Basic Materials stocks are currently trading 1.65% higher, while Conglomerates are currently trading 1.66% higher. Financials are also up sharply in early trading. At last check, Financials were trading 1.59% higher.
Among the major gainers and losers in early trading are Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA), which is currently trading 5.05% lower at $9.78, PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP), which is currently trading 2.05% higher at $62.20, Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), which is currently trading 1.26% higher at $550.01, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), which is currently trading 1.93% higher at $407.90, CF Industries Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CF), which is currently trading 2.30% lower at $143.43, Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC), which is currently trading 1.02% higher at $6.43, and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS), which is currently trading 1.58% higher at $98.23.
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. |