April 27, 2015: Markets opened higher on Monday but there was little positive news to sustain the opening gains. Biotech stocks traded lower to drag the Nasdaq Composite lower. Heavyweight Apple reports earnings after the bell today and that is likely to set the tone for tomorrow, if not the rest of the week. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded down 0.28% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.48%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded down 0.74%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Monday was McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD)which traded down 2.23% at $96.54. The stock’s 52-week range is $87.62 to $103.78. Trading volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 7.4 million shares. The company had no specific news today, but rival Burger King reported solid earnings.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) traded lower by 2.14% at $116.15. The stock’s 52-week range is $74.26 to $123.76. Trading volume was about 25% below the daily average of around 3.9 million shares. The company had no specific news today.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) traded down 1.84% at $34.62. The stock’s 52-week range is $27.51 to $35.53. Trading volume was equal to the daily average of around 29 million shares. The drug giant reports earnings before the opening bell on Tuesday.

Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) traded down 1.18% at $56.92. The stock’s 52-week range is $52.49 to $63.62. Trading volume was about 35% below the daily average of around 11 million shares. Like rival Pfizer, Merck reports earnings Tuesday morning.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 19 are set to close lower today and 11 are on track to close higher.

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