It was a tough week for stocks. After eking out gains last week, the U.S. indexes gave up those gains and then some. There was some positive data on the U.S. economy, including lower-than-expected initial unemployment claims, better-than-expected manufacturing numbers from the Empire and Philadelphia Fed reports, and slowing consumer price inflation. However, concerns over Europe's ugly situation overwhelmed investors, and they fled stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average
Top 3 Performing Sectors
Russell 3000 Sector |
Weekly Price Change |
Month-to-Date Price Change |
---|---|---|
Utilities | (0.2%) | (0.9%) |
Telecom | (0.4%) | (0.5%) |
Health Care | (0.5%) | (0.9%) |
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Weekly price change is Dec. 9-Dec. 16. Monthly price change is Nov. 30-Dec. 16.
One stock providing a boost to the health care group was ISTA Pharmaceuticals
Also getting a takeover boost on Friday was RSC Holdings
Top 3 Performing Russell 3000 Companies
Company |
Weekly Price Change |
---|---|
ISTA Pharmaceuticals | 69.5% |
RSC Holdings | 49.2% |
Synovis Life Technologies | 49% |
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Weekly price change is Dec. 9-Dec. 16.
Also among the week's top performers were Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Zoll shareholders, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief this week after Medicare opted to not make any adjustments to its reimbursements for the company's LifeVest product. Zoll shares tacked on 24% for the week.
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