Following the market opening Friday, the Dow traded down 0.15 percent to 19,163.47 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.08 percent to
5,255.22. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.09 percent to 2,193.00.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Friday morning, utilities shares gained by 1.07 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Exelon Corporation
(NYSE: EXC), and Huaneng Power International Inc (ADR)
(NYSE: HNP).
In trading on Friday, energy shares fell by 0.39 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included SM Energy Co
(NYSE: SM), down 6 percent, and CGG SA (ADR) (NYSE:
CGG), down 5 percent.
Top Headline
Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) reported upbeat earnings
for its third quarter and raised its profit outlook for the year.
Big Lots posted quarterly earnings of $0.04 per share, on revenue of $1.105 billion. However, analysts were expecting a loss of
$0.01 per share on revenue of $1.12 billion.
The company raised its full-year EPS to $3.55–$3.60 from $3.45–$3.55.
Equities Trading UP
Envision Healthcare Holdings Inc (NYSE: EVHC) shares
shot up 196 percent to $66.90. Envision Healthcare and Amsurg Corp (NASDAQ: AMSG) reporeted the completion of their merger.
Shares of Ascena Retail Group Inc (NASDAQ: ASNA)
got a boost, shooting up 13 percent to $6.61 as the company reported downbeat earnings for its first quarter on Thursday.
Neovasc Inc (US) (NASDAQ: NVCN) shares were also
up, gaining 70 percent to $0.871 following announcement of an agreement with Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX).
Equities Trading DOWN
Workday Inc (NYSE: WDAY) shares dropped 17 percent
to $67.98. Workday posted better-than-expected results for its third quarter on Thursday.
Shares of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (NASDAQ: SWHC) were down 10 percent to $21.72. Smith & Wesson reported upbeat results for
its second quarter, but issued a weak outlook for its third quarter.
CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSE: CVM) was down, falling
around 35 percent to $0.116 after the company reported the pricing of $4.25 million public offering of common stock and
warrants.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 0.06 percent to $51.09 while gold traded up 0.45 percent to $1,174.70.
Silver traded up 0.45 percent Friday to $16.58, while copper fell 1.46 percent to $2.60.
Eurozone
European shares were lower today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 declined 0.72 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index fell 0.63 percent,
while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index declined 0.81 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX dropped 0.54 percent, and the French CAC 40 slipped
1.02 percent while U.K. shares fell 0.77 percent.
Economics
The U.S. economy added 178,000 new jobs in November, while unemployment rate declined to 4.6 percent from 4.9 percent. However,
economists were expecting a gain of 175,000 nonfarm jobs.
Federal Reserve Gov. Daniel Tarullo will speak in Washington, D.C. at 12:30 p.m. ET.
The Baker Hughes North American rig count report for the latest week November is schedule for release at 1:00 p.m. ET.
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