November 17, 2015: Markets opened higher on Tuesday and posted intra-day highs right around the noon hour. Afternoon trading turned lower as energy stocks and commodities dropped sharply. WTI crude for December delivery dropped 2.6% today to settle at $40.76 per barrel. Gold fell 1.4% to settle at $1,068.60, its lowest close since February of 2010. Equities were headed for a lower close shortly before the closing bell as the DJIA traded up 0.01% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.09%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded down 0.02%.
The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Tuesday was Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) which traded down 1.53% at $52.95. The stock’s 52-week range is $39.72 to $54.98. Trading volume was about a third below the daily average of about 37.6 million. The company had no specific news today.
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) traded down 1.38% at $69.42. The stock’s 52-week range is $62.99 to $107.12. Volume was about half the daily average of around 7.5 million shares traded. The machinery maker has scheduled a conference call with analysts and investors for Tuesday afternoon.
Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) traded down 1.29% at $79.86. The stock’s 52-week range is $66.55 to $97.20. Trading volume was less than half the daily average of around 16 million. The energy giant’s stock suffered from today’s sharp drop in crude prices.
The Coca-Cola Co. Inc. (NYSE: KO) traded down 0.80% at $41.63. The stock’s 52-week range is $36.56 to $45.00. Trading volume was about 40% lower than the daily average of about 16 million. The company increased its estimate of the impact of currency exchange rates on the company’s fourth quarter revenues and operating income.
Of the Dow 30 stocks 18 are set to close lower today and 12 are on track to close higher.
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