Investing.com – U.S. stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Basic Materials, Industrials and Healthcare sectors led shares lower.
At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.94%, while the S&P 500 index lost 0.54%, and the NASDAQ Composite index lost 0.54%.
The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ), which rose 0.84% or 0.50 points to trade at 59.94 at the close. Meanwhile, United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX) added 0.40% or 0.63 points to end at 156.83 and Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) was up 0.34% or 0.20 points to 59.19 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT), which fell 2.83% or 3.88 points to trade at 133.37 at the close. Dow Inc (NYSE:DOW) declined 2.38% or 1.17 points to end at 48.03 and 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) was down 1.73% or 2.81 points to 160.08.
The top performers on the S&P 500 were NortonLifeLock Inc (NASDAQ:NLOK) which rose 12.04% to 19.73, National Oilwell Varco Inc (NYSE:NOV) which was up 10.46% to settle at 24.18 and AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) which gained 5.86% to close at 92.29.
The worst performers were Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (NASDAQ:TTWO) which was down 11.85% to 112.60 in late trade, Fleetcor Technologies Inc (NYSE:FLT) which lost 6.72% to settle at 306.76 and Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC) which was down 6.26% to 23.36 at the close.
The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were LightPath Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:LPTH) which rose 51.28% to 1.1800, Assertio Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ASRT) which was up 46.15% to settle at 1.520 and Benitec Biopharma Ltd ADR (NASDAQ:BNTC) which gained 39.20% to close at 7.44.
The worst performers were Flex Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:SLRX) which was down 58.05% to 0.835 in late trade, Zogenix Inc (NASDAQ:ZGNX) which lost 38.96% to settle at 32.12 and Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp (NASDAQ:TNXP) which was down 38.85% to 0.532 at the close.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 1881 to 895 and 90 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 1828 fell and 811 advanced, while 75 ended unchanged.
Shares in AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) rose to 52-week highs; up 5.86% or 5.11 to 92.29. Shares in United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX) rose to all time highs; rising 0.40% or 0.63 to 156.83. Shares in Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) rose to all time highs; gaining 0.34% or 0.20 to 59.19. Shares in Flex Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:SLRX) fell to all time lows; down 58.05% or 1.155 to 0.835. Shares in Zogenix Inc (NASDAQ:ZGNX) fell to 52-week lows; losing 38.96% or 20.50 to 32.12. Shares in Benitec Biopharma Ltd ADR (NASDAQ:BNTC) rose to 3-years highs; rising 39.20% or 2.10 to 7.44.
The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was up 3.41% to 15.47.
Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.25% or 3.90 to $1573.90 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March fell 1.16% or 0.59 to hit $50.36 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract fell 0.87% or 0.48 to trade at $54.45 a barrel.
EUR/USD was down 0.31% to 1.0946, while USD/JPY fell 0.22% to 109.75.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.22% at 98.593.