Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Why the Dow's Finishing Strong Today

By Dan Caplinger – Updated Apr 7, 2017 at 7:08PM

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

A brief look at the market's moves so far on Friday.

Earnings news dominated the stock market today, as several huge companies announced their fourth-quarter results after the bell last night. Although the overall market was mixed, strong performance from Dow components pushed the Dow Jones Industrials (INDEX: ^DJI) up 64 points to 12,688. The S&P 500 (INDEX: ^GSPC) dropped two points to 1,312.

Earlier today, Fool analyst Eric Bleeker took a closer look at IBM, Microsoft, and Intel, all of which were up sharply today. Strong results from all three companies bolstered the sense that technology could lead the economy toward a faster rate of expansion.

But not every Dow stock performed well. American Express (NYSE: AXP) was down more than 2% in afternoon trading as the company added to its loan loss reserves. The news threw water in the face of those who believed that the credit environment was improving and would help card issuers like AmEx recover from the recession's ill effects.

Home Depot (NYSE: HD) also lost ground. Although the stock has performed very strongly over the past several months as conditions in the housing market appear to improve, an article in Forbes suggested that that the stock's current price already reflects an exceedingly optimistic view of housing going forward. The shares were down about 2%.

Finally, Travelers (NYSE: TRV) jumped more than 1.4% in afternoon trading. The company is slated to announce earnings next Tuesday, and analysts are expecting a drop of about 20% from year-ago earnings-per-share as the insurance company struggles to rebound from a terrible 2011 for natural disasters and catastrophic losses.

Make sure you finish strong in your quest to retire rich. Learn about three smart stocks for the long run in the Motley Fool's latest special report. Click here and read it today before it's gone.

Fool contributor Dan Caplinger doesn't own shares of the companies mentioned. You can follow him on Twitter here. The Motley Fool owns shares of Microsoft, Intel, and IBM. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Microsoft, Home Depot, and Intel, as well as creating a bull call spread position in Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Fool has a disclosure policy.

Invest Smarter with The Motley Fool

Join Over 1 Million Premium Members Receiving…

  • New Stock Picks Each Month
  • Detailed Analysis of Companies
  • Model Portfolios
  • Live Streaming During Market Hours
  • And Much More
Get Started Now

Stocks Mentioned

Dow Jones Industrial Average (Price Return) Stock Quote
Dow Jones Industrial Average (Price Return)
^DJI
$29,590.41 (-1.62%) $-486.27
S&P 500 Index - Price Return (USD) Stock Quote
S&P 500 Index - Price Return (USD)
^GSPC
$3,693.23 (-1.72%) $-64.76
The Home Depot, Inc. Stock Quote
The Home Depot, Inc.
HD
$270.94 (0.67%) $1.80
American Express Company Stock Quote
American Express Company
AXP
$140.26 (-1.94%) $-2.77
The Travelers Companies, Inc. Stock Quote
The Travelers Companies, Inc.
TRV
$155.48 (-0.97%) $-1.52

*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

Related Articles

Motley Fool Returns

Motley Fool Stock Advisor

Market-beating stocks from our award-winning analyst team.

Stock Advisor Returns
329%
 
S&P 500 Returns
106%

Calculated by average return of all stock recommendations since inception of the Stock Advisor service in February of 2002. Returns as of 09/24/2022.

Discounted offers are only available to new members. Stock Advisor list price is $199 per year.

Premium Investing Services

Invest better with The Motley Fool. Get stock recommendations, portfolio guidance, and more from The Motley Fool's premium services.