Investing.com – U.S. stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Utilities, Consumer Goods and Consumer Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.17%, while the S&P 500 index climbed 0.20%, and the NASDAQ Composite index gained 0.18%.
The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), which rose 1.24% or 0.98 points to trade at 80.08 at the close. Meanwhile, American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) added 1.21% or 0.96 points to end at 80.32 and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) was up 1.00% or 0.32 points to 31.95 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), which fell 1.49% or 1.81 points to trade at 119.74 at the close. Visa Inc (NYSE:V) declined 0.38% or 0.26 points to end at 68.75 and JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) was down 0.34% or 0.23 points to 68.14.
The top performers on the S&P 500 were TripAdvisor Inc (NASDAQ:TRIP) which rose 14.65% to 87.65, NiSource Inc (NYSE:NI) which was up 3.71% to settle at 48.40 and Harley-Davidson Inc (NYSE:HOG) which gained 3.56% to close at 56.66.
The worst performers were Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) which was down 3.51% to 12.09 in late trade, FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) which lost 2.96% to settle at 176.73 and Navient Cor (NASDAQ:NAVI) which was down 2.61% to 18.64 at the close.
The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:SGYP) which rose 67.72% to 7.782, Joes Jeans Inc (NASDAQ:JOEZ) which was up 48.69% to settle at 0.233 and Axion Power International Inc (NASDAQ:AXPW) which gained 24.14% to close at 0.180.
The worst performers were Delta Technology Holding Ltd (NASDAQ:DELT) which was down 36.88% to 5.75 in late trade, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:RCPI) which lost 30.04% to settle at 1.980 and Davidstea Inc (NASDAQ:DTEA) which was down 24.55% to 22.00 at the close.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 1744 to 1401 and 3 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 1458 fell and 1343 advanced, while 3 ended unchanged.
Shares in Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) fell to 5-year lows; down 3.51% or 0.44 to 12.09. Shares in NiSource Inc (NYSE:NI) rose to all time highs; gaining 3.71% or 1.73 to 48.40. Shares in Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:SGYP) rose to 3-years highs; up 67.72% or 3.142 to 7.782. Shares in Delta Technology Holding Ltd (NASDAQ:DELT) fell to all time lows; losing 36.88% or 3.36 to 5.75. Shares in Davidstea Inc (NASDAQ:DTEA) fell to all time lows; falling 24.55% or 7.16 to 22.00.
The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was down 2.16% to 14.49.
Gold for August delivery was up 0.40% or 4.70 to $1185.60 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August fell 0.55% or 0.33 to hit $60.12 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract fell 0.03% or 0.02 to trade at $63.68 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.78% to 1.1335, while USD/JPY rose 0.06% to 123.45.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.77% at 94.48.