March 21 2018: The S&P 500 closed down 0.2% at 2,711.93. The DJIA closed down 0.2% at 24,682.45. Separately, the Nasdaq was down 0.3% at 7,345.29.

Wednesday was a down day for the broad U.S. markets. Although each of the major indices was at one point very positive during the session, they all still sold off at the end of the day. On a positive note, crude oil exploded and is now back above $65. The S&P 500 sectors were more or less split down the middle. The most positive sectors were energy and materials up 2.8%, and 1.3%, respectively. The worst performing sectors were consumer staples and real estate down 1.0%, and 0.8%, respectively.

Crude oil was up 3.1% at $65.50.

Gold was up 1.8% at $1,335.30.

The S&P 500 stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Wednesday was General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) which traded down about 9% at $45.53. The stock’s 52-week range is $44.79 to $46.24. Volume was 24.5 million compared to the daily average volume of 4.3 million.

The stock posting the largest daily percentage gain in the S&P 500 ahead of the close Wednesday was Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO) which rose about 9% to $16.19. The stock’s 52-week range is $10.06 to $20.41. Volume was 2.3 million compared to the daily average volume of 1.7 million.

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