Investing.com – U.S. stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Telecoms, Technology and Utilities sectors led shares lower.
At the close in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.48%, while the S&P 500 index lost 0.45%, and the NASDAQ Composite index lost 0.40%.
The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), which rose 0.41% or 0.33 points to trade at 80.40 at the close. Meanwhile, Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ:CSCO) added 0.28% or 0.08 points to end at 28.97 and McDonald`s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) was up 0.27% or 0.26 points to 96.39 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), which fell 2.77% or 1.32 points to trade at 46.28 at the close. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) declined 1.29% or 0.42 points to end at 32.22 and Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) was down 1.12% or 0.38 points to 33.46.
The top performers on the S&P 500 were Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) which rose 4.30% to 21.85, Anthem Inc (NYSE:ANTM) which was up 3.66% to settle at 159.8500 and Expeditors International Washington (NASDAQ:EXPD) which gained 3.01% to close at 48.11.
The worst performers were Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:FTR) which was down 11.87% to 5.94 in late trade, Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:ALXN) which lost 8.03% to settle at 155.01 and Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) which was down 7.19% to 14.72 at the close.
The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were Synageva BioPharma Corp (NASDAQ:GEVA) which rose 112.15% to 203.39, Borderfree Inc (NASDAQ:BRDR) which was up 105.15% to settle at 13.93 and Fate Therap (NASDAQ:FATE) which gained 45.97% to close at 7.24.
The worst performers were Tetralogic Phrm (NASDAQ:TLOG) which was down 36.51% to 2.40 in late trade, ANADIGICS Inc (NASDAQ:ANAD) which lost 26.15% to settle at 0.960 and Andatee China Marine Fuel Services (NASDAQ:AMCF) which was down 25.00% to 0.525 at the close.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 1840 to 1300 and 1 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 1444 fell and 1348 advanced, while 3 ended unchanged.
Shares in Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) rose to 3-years highs; rising 4.30% or 0.90 to 21.85. Shares in Anthem Inc (NYSE:ANTM) rose to all time highs; gaining 3.66% or 5.6500 to 159.8500. Shares in Synageva BioPharma Corp (NASDAQ:GEVA) rose to 5-year highs; up 112.15% or 107.52 to 203.39. Shares in Tetralogic Phrm (NASDAQ:TLOG) fell to all time lows; down 36.51% or 1.38 to 2.40. Shares in Fate Therap (NASDAQ:FATE) rose to 52-week highs; up 45.97% or 2.28 to 7.24. Shares in Andatee China Marine Fuel Services (NASDAQ:AMCF) fell to 52-week lows; down 25.00% or 0.175 to 0.525.
The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was up 5.80% to 15.14 a new 1-month high.
Gold for June delivery was down 0.18% or 2.10 to $1191.10 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in June rose 0.45% or 0.27 to hit $60.67 a barrel, while the June Brent oil contract rose 0.00% or 0.01 to trade at $67.53 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 1.45% to 1.1348, while USD/JPY fell 0.35% to 119.42.
The US Dollar Index was down 1.13% at 94.19.