July 23, 2014: Markets opened mixed on Wednesday as the DJIA lagged on a weakness among some of the heavy-hitter blue chips. Tech stocks pumped up both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite as both Apple and Microsoft earnings came in better than expected..  Shortly before closing today the DJIA traded down 0.10% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.24%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.42%.

The biggest loser among the Dow 30 today was The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) which  traded lower by 2.24% at $126.83. The stock’s 52-week range is $101.77 to $144.57. Volume was about 3-times higher than the daily average of around 3.7 million shares traded. The company beat EPS estimates on a big tax gain, but revenues were light and a charge to its tanker program added even more weight.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) traded down 1.48% at $108.43 today in a 52-week range of $81.35 to $111.46. Volume was about equal to the daily average of around 3.6 million shares traded. Cat reports second-quarter results Thursday before the market opens, and traders appear to expect bad news on earnings following today’s report that global sales are down 10%.

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) traded down 1.08% at $25.27. The stock’s 52-week range is $20.22 to $26.49. Share volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 30 million shares traded. The company is being beaten up a little today following a weak outlook from competitor Juniper Networks Inc. (NYSE: JNPR) when the company reported earnings last night.

United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) traded down 0.92% at $109.80 in a 52-week range of $99.50 to $120.66. Volume was nearly double the daily average of around 3.3 million shares. The defense contractor reported earnings yesterday and weak order growth cast doubt on the shares that continued over into today’s trading session..

Of the Dow 30 stocks 10 are set to close higher today and 20 are poised to close lower.

ALSO READ: What a Marijuana ETF Would Look Like

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.