Investing.com – U.S. stocks were mixed after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Health Care, Consumer Services and Technology sectors led shares higher while losses in the Basic Materials, Oil & Gas and Utilities sectors led shares lower.
At the close in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.65%, while the S&P 500 index declined 0.49%, and the NASDAQ Composite index climbed 0.19%.
The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were Merck & Company Inc (NYSE:MRK), which rose 0.99% or 0.57 points to trade at 58.22 at the close. Meanwhile, Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) added 0.77% or 0.75 points to end at 98.26 and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) was up 0.67% or 0.80 points to 120.76 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were EI du Pont de Nemours and Company (NYSE:DD), which fell 1.97% or 1.50 points to trade at 74.51 at the close. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) declined 1.94% or 1.67 points to end at 84.40 and Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) was down 1.78% or 1.90 points to 104.80.
The top performers on the S&P 500 were Wynn Resorts Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) which rose 5.85% to 130.11, Urban Outfitters Inc (NASDAQ:URBN) which was up 3.55% to settle at 46.70 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:VRTX) which gained 3.44% to close at 134.25.
The worst performers were Transocean Ltd (NYSE:RIG) which was down 7.15% to 14.16 in late trade, Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) which lost 6.41% to settle at 46.11 and Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE:SWN) which was down 5.87% to 22.27 at the close.
The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were Essex Rental Corporation (NASDAQ:ESSX) which rose 43.50% to 1.140, Vascular Biogenc (NASDAQ:VBLT) which was up 40.24% to settle at 4.74 and Amicus Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:FOLD) which gained 33.26% to close at 12.46.
The worst performers were Sungy Mobile Adr (NASDAQ:GOMO) which was down 21.70% to 3.86 in late trade, Donegal Group B Inc (NASDAQ:DGICB) which lost 20.34% to settle at 21.500 and Wheeler RE Investment Trust (NASDAQ:WHLR) which was down 17.68% to 2.700 at the close.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 1916 to 895; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 1492 rose and 1308 declined, while 9 ended unchanged.
Shares in Urban Outfitters Inc (NASDAQ:URBN) rose to all time highs; gaining 3.55% or 1.60 to 46.70. Shares in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:VRTX) rose to all time highs; gaining 3.44% or 4.46 to 134.25. Shares in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) rose to all time highs; gaining 0.67% or 0.80 to 120.76. Shares in Sungy Mobile Adr (NASDAQ:GOMO) fell to all time lows; losing 21.70% or 1.07 to 3.86. Shares in Amicus Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:FOLD) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 33.26% or 3.11 to 12.46. Shares in Wheeler RE Investment Trust (NASDAQ:WHLR) fell to all time lows; losing 17.68% or 0.580 to 2.700.
The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was up 0.79% to 14.08.
Gold for April delivery was up 1.69% or 19.40 to $1170.70 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude Oil for delivery in May fell 2.36% or 1.10 to hit $45.55 a barrel, while the May Brent Oil contract fell 2.77% or 1.55 to trade at $54.36 a barrel.
EUR/USD was down 2.02% to 1.0649, while USD/JPY rose 0.60% to 120.83.
The US Dollar Index was up 2.13% at 99.45.