It was almost impossible to find a loser on the Dow (^DJI +1.24%) yesterday. Today tells almost the opposite story.
While Monday's markets were lifted by positive American manufacturing statistics, the Spanish economy is keeping a lid on today's action. The Dow is down 0.5%, with only five of 30 stocks trading in the black, and the worst performers make their hay in the infrastructure sector.
Chemicals giant E.I. Du Pont de Nemours (DD +0.00%) dropped 1.4%, and construction machinery expert Caterpillar (CAT +2.47%) is down 1%. Together, these two stocks took 11 points off the index. In both cases, investors worry that European orders may suffer if Spain swallows its national pride and asks for a bailout.
Brand-new Dow member UnitedHealth Group (UNH +0.94%) put its best foot forward in its index debut, gaining 0.1% at midday. That move pushed the Dow northward by a single point -- one of the biggest gains of the day.
The biggest winner? Technology conglomerate 3M (MMM +2.60%), which jumped 0.3% for three entire Dow points. Investors like the Post-It Notes maker's acquisition of ceramics maker Ceradyne, and media personality Jim Cramer just threw his support behind the stock on TV
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