June 26, 2014: Markets opened lower for a fourth straight day on Thursday and spent much of the day trying to reach the break-even line. Claims for jobless benefits fell slightly last week, but personal spending was lower than expected. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded down 0.14% for the day, the S&P 500 was down 0.14%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded down 0.05%.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) posted the largest percentage decrease among the Dow 30 today, and traded at $74.92, down 0.89% in a 52-week range of $71.51 to $81.37. Share volume was about equal to the daily average of around 7 million shares traded. Again, no news today, just lousy sentiment on consumer spending.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) traded down 0.71% at around $41.72 in a 52-week range of $30.84 to $42.05. Volume was about 30% lower than the daily average of around 30 million shares traded. The company had no news today, but the weak report on personal spending could have an effect on sales of the Xbox.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) traded lower by 0.59% at $29.63 shortly before the closing bell. The stock’s 52-week range is $27.33 to $32.96. Volume was about 40% lower than the daily average of around 29 million shares traded. The drug maker had no news today, and gave back nearly half the gain it made yesterday.

The Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG) also traded lower today, down 0.76% at $78.72 shortly before today’s close. The stock’s 52-week range is $73.61 to $85.82. Volume was about 20% above the daily average of around 7.6 million shares traded. P&G had no news today, but was down with the rest of the consumer goods sector.

Of the Dow 30 stocks just 8 looked to close higher today and 22 were on their way to a lower finish.

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