Midway through trading Wednesday, the Dow traded up 0.23 percent to 24,784.52 while the NASDAQ gained 0.24 percent to 7,381.63.
The S&P also rose, gaining 0.26 percent to 2,723.88.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
On Wednesday, the energy shares gained 2.44 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Obsidian Energy Ltd.
(NYSE: OBE), up 11 percent, and California Resources
Corporation (NYSE: CRC), up 10 percent.
In trading on Wednesday, consumer staples shares fell 1.04 percent.
Top Headline
General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) reported upbeat
results for its third quarter, but lowered its FY18 earnings forecast.
Adjusted earnings came in at 79 cents per share, beating estimates of 78 cents per share. Sales came in at $3.9 billion, versus
estimates of $3.78 billion.
General Mills now expects FY18 adjusted earnings to rise up to 1 percent, versus earlier forecast for a 3 percent to 4 percent
growth.
Equities Trading UP
China Auto Logistics Inc. (NASDAQ: CALI) shares
shot up 50 percent to $5.5554.
Shares of Tecogen Inc. (NASDAQ: TGEN) got a boost,
shooting up 14 percent to $2.836 after the company posted upbeat quarterly results.
DXP Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: DXPE) shares were
also up, gaining 20 percent to $39.44 after the company reported strong quarterly results.
Equities Trading DOWN
Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALDR)
shares dropped 12 percent to $11.925. Alder BioPharma named Paul Cleveland as interim President and CEO.
Shares of General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) were down 9
percent to $45.50. General Mills reported upbeat results for its third quarter, but lowered its FY18 earnings forecast.
Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: RKDA) was down,
falling around 10 percent to $34.95 as the company posted Q4 results.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 2.5 percent to $65.15 while gold traded up 1 percent to $1,330.80.
Silver traded up 1.76 percent Wednesday to $16.47, while copper rose 0.67 percent to $3.0585.
Eurozone
European shares were lower today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 declined 0.45 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index fell 0.80 percent,
while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index fell 0.10 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX dropped 0.34 percent, and the French CAC 40 slipped 0.39
percent while U.K. shares fell 0.32 percent.
Economics
U.S. current account deficit widened to $128.2 billion in the fourth quarter, versus $101.5 billion in the third quarter.
Economists projected a deficit of $125 billion.
Existing-home sales rose 3 percent at an annual pace of 5.54 million in February. Economists were expecting a 5.41 million
rate.
Crude supplies slipped 2.62 million barrels for the week ended March 16, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported.
Analysts projected a gain of 2.6 million barrels. Gasoline stockpiles declined 1.69 million barrels, while distillate stockpiles
fell 2.02 million barrels for the week.
The Federal Open Market Committee will announce its policy decision at 2:00 p.m. ET.
The Fed Chair will hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.
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