Investing.com – U.S. stocks were mixed after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Technology, Consumer Services and Financials sectors led shares higher while losses in the Telecoms, Oil & Gas and Industrials sectors led shares lower.
At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.09%, while the S&P 500 index climbed 0.16%, and the NASDAQ Composite index added 0.30%.
The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), which rose 1.35% or 1.39 points to trade at 104.34 at the close. Meanwhile, Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD) added 1.21% or 1.65 points to end at 137.96 and The Travelers Companies Inc (NYSE:TRV) was up 1.01% or 1.18 points to 117.61 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Boeing Company (NYSE:BA), which fell 2.17% or 2.95 points to trade at 133.01 at the close. Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) declined 1.40% or 1.18 points to end at 82.92 and Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ) was down 0.83% or 0.46 points to 54.86.
The top performers on the S&P 500 were XL Group Ltd (NYSE:XL) which rose 6.55% to 35.12, Varian Medical Systems Inc (NYSE:VAR) which was up 6.25% to settle at 94.03 and Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP) which gained 4.96% to close at 97.75.
The worst performers were Whole Foods Market Inc (NASDAQ:WFM) which was down 8.59% to 30.75 in late trade, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) which lost 8.16% to settle at 12.71 and BorgWarner Inc (NYSE:BWA) which was down 5.03% to 32.49 at the close.
The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were Delta Technology Holding Ltd (NASDAQ:DELT) which rose 127.36% to 2.4100, Evoke Pharm (NASDAQ:EVOK) which was up 47.80% to settle at 3.03 and PCM Inc (NASDAQ:PCMI) which gained 32.38% to close at 15.66.
The worst performers were SAExploration Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:SAEX) which was down 37.37% to 11.330 in late trade, Infinera Corporation (NASDAQ:INFN) which lost 33.58% to settle at 8.31 and Novocure Ltd (NASDAQ:NVCR) which was down 29.28% to 8.09 at the close.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 1679 to 1584 and 33 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 1378 fell and 1187 advanced, while 77 ended unchanged.
Shares in Varian Medical Systems Inc (NYSE:VAR) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 6.25% or 5.53 to 94.03. Shares in Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD) rose to all time highs; up 1.21% or 1.65 to 137.96. Shares in Infinera Corporation (NASDAQ:INFN) fell to 52-week lows; falling 33.58% or 4.20 to 8.31. Shares in PCM Inc (NASDAQ:PCMI) rose to 5-year highs; rising 32.38% or 3.83 to 15.66. Shares in Novocure Ltd (NASDAQ:NVCR) fell to all time lows; falling 29.28% or 3.35 to 8.09.
The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was down 0.86% to 12.72.
Gold for December delivery was up 0.63% or 8.40 to $1342.90 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in September fell 1.93% or 0.81 to hit $41.11 a barrel, while the October Brent oil contract fell 1.62% or 0.71 to trade at $43.20 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.18% to 1.1080, while USD/JPY fell 0.05% to 105.34.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.08% at 96.67.