December 31, 2015: Markets opened lower on Thursday as energy stocks got a lift from higher crude oil prices, but technology, telecom, and consumer staples traded lower on the last trading day of what has been a somewhat disappointing year. WTI crude oil for February delivery traded up 1.2% today to settle at $37.04, a drop of more than 30% in 2015. Gold for February delivery traded higher by less than 0.1% to settle at $1,060.20 for the day, down more than 10% for the year. Equities were headed for a lower close shortly before the closing bell as the DJIA traded down 0.71% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.63%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded down 0.64%.
U.S. markets are closed Friday. Happy New Year to all!
The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Thursday was Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) which traded down 1.77% at $105.42. The stock’s 52-week range is $92.00 to $134.54. Trading volume was about 25% below the daily average of about 44 million. The tech giant had no specific news today.
The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) traded down 1.20% at $43.05. The stock’s 52-week range is $36.56 to $43.91. Trading volume was about less than half the daily average of around 14 million. The company’s bottling plant in Yemen was destroyed in an airstrike according to a report at the WSJ on Thursday.
Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) traded down 1.17% at $34.58. The stock’s 52-week range is $24.87 to $37.49. Trading volume was about 65% below the daily average of around 25.3 million. The company today confirmed that the CEO of Intel subsidiary Wind River Systems has left the company.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) traded down 1.01% at $46.30. The stock’s 52-week range is $38.06 to $50.86. Volume was 35% below the daily average of around 13 million shares traded. The communications giant had no specific news today.
Of the Dow 30 stocks 29 are set to close lower today and just 1 (GE) is on track to close higher.
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