By Anora Mahmudova and Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch Oil, gold
prices rebound
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Big gains in energy, materials and
industrials sectors, following a rebound in oil and gold prices,
helped propel the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average to
record levels on Wednesday.
The S&P 500 (SPX) both set an intraday record and closed at
a record for the 48th time this year, after gaining 7.77 points, or
0.4%, to 2,074.32.
Most of the gains on the benchmark index came from materials,
industrials and energy sector stocks, with all three sectors rising
more than 1%. Cimarex Energy Co (XEC) , Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI) and
Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO) were among top gainers, rising
5.1%, 4.8% and 3.6% respectively.
Analysts cautioned that oil prices and energy names could face
headwinds in the future, after spell of buying.
Scott Wren, senior equity strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors,
said the fall in prices [related to oil and energy] is likely not
done yet and that his research team has an even-weight
recommendation on the sector.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) also set an intraday
record and closed at an all-time high for the 33rd time in 2014.
The blue-chip index added 33.07 points, or 0.2%, to 17,912.62.
The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) ended the day 18.66 points, or 0.4%,
higher at 4,774.47. Small-cap stocks outperformed large-cap stocks,
with the Russell 2000 (RUT) gaining 10.55 points, or 0.9%, to
1,179.01. However, year-to-date, small stocks have been lagging
behind their large counterparts, as the index is up only 1.3%,
compared to a 12.2% gain in the S&P 500.
Investors shrugged off a batch of mixed economic reports,
including private-sector payrolls and ISM services index.
A reading of private sector employment showed that hiring slowed
in November, though employers added more than 200,000 jobs in seven
of the past eight months. The productivity for the third quarter
was revised upwards, however, labor costs fell, pointing at lagging
wages.
Meanwhile, U.S. services companies reported that growth ramped
up in November, with a gauge of activity rising to 59.3% from 57.1%
in October, according to a survey of senior executives released
Wednesday by the Institute for Supply Management.
"Luke-warm reports are the new good," said Joseph Saluzzi
co-founder and co-head of equity trading at Themis Trading, a
brokerage firm, commenting on Wednesday's data,
"It's not too hot and not too cold, and on Wall Street there is
a belief that the U.S. economy is immune to global deflationary
problems. But it is a matter of time before deflation catches up
here as well," Saluzzi said.
Stocks also didn't appear to react much to President Obama's
lengthy speech and Q&A at a gathering of industry heavyweights
at the Business Roundtable in Washington, which was televised.
Stocks for Wednesday: Brown-Forman Corp. (BFB) reported
increased sales of its Jack Daniel's whiskey but missed analysts'
second-quarter profit expectations and cut its outlook on worries
about a strengthening U.S. dollar. The stock was the second-worst
performer on the S&P 500, falling 3.9%.
Energy sector stocks rose sharply, with major oil producers,
such as Exxon Mobile Corp (XOM) and ConocoPhillips (COP) up 0.8%
and 2.3% respectively. Energy companies dropped more than 25% since
this summer when oil prices peaked in 2014 at more than $100 a
barrel.
Puma Biotechnology Inc.(PBYI) tanked 12.15% after the
pharmaceutical company delayed its breast-cancer drug application
to early 2016. See Stocks to Watch
Other markets: European stocks posted moderate gains across the
board despite downbeat eurozone PMI data. The FTSE 100 index closed
lower after Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne's Autumn
Statement on the government's economic plans.
The dollar rose against the yen (USDJPY) after setting a fresh
7-year high late Tuesday. However, the euro (EURUSD) was at
$1.2309, the lowest since August 2012.
Crude-oil futures (CLF5) rose Wednesday, picking up more steam
after a U.S. government-supply report showed an unexpected decline
in crude inventories. Gold prices (GCG5) were trading higher, just
over $1,209 an ounce. Read: T. Boone Pickens predicts $100 a barrel
is coming back
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