Markets Right Now: After a bumpy start, stocks manage gains

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The latest on developments in financial markets (All times local):

4:00 p.m.

U.S. stocks shook off a shaky start and finished mostly higher as technology and industrial companies rose.

Apple rose 1 per cent Wednesday and Microsoft gained 1.3 per cent.

The modest gains came a day after the market had its biggest drop this year.

Banks continued to fall along with bond yields, which forces interest rates on loans lower. Wells Fargo dropped 1 per cent.

Sears plunged 12 per cent after the struggling retailer said it was doubtful it would be able to keep operating.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index edged up 4 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 2,348.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 6 points, less than 0.1 per cent, to 20,661, dragged down by a big drop in Nike.

The Nasdaq composite rose 27 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 5,821.

___

11:45 a.m.

Stocks are wavering between small gains and losses in midday trading as technology and industrial stocks rise but phone and energy companies fall.

Apple and Microsoft each gained about 1 per cent Wednesday, but AT&T and Verizon each lost about 1 per cent.

Energy companies fell along with another drop in the price of crude oil.

Sears Holdings plunged 16 per cent after the struggling retailer said it was doubtful it would be able to keep operating.

Nike dropped 6 per cent after issuing a weak forecast.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index edged up 4 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 2,348.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 12 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 20,655. The Nasdaq composite rose 21 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 5,815.

___

9:35 a.m.

Stocks are treading water in early trading as gains in high-dividend stocks are outweighed by drops in banks and other sectors.

Sears Holdings plunged 9 per cent in early trading Wednesday after the struggling retailer said it was doubtful it would be able to keep operating.

Nike dropped 6 per cent after issuing a weak forecast.

The market is coming off its biggest drop so far this year.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index slipped 1 point to 2,342.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 36 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 20,632. The Nasdaq composite edged up 5 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 5,799.

Small-company stocks fell more than the rest of the market.

More stocks fell than rose on the New York Stock Exchange.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today