Reuters
Published Apr 14, 2011 05:32PM ET
* Google's stock falls after the bell following results
* U.S. report hits Goldman, pressures financials
* Jobless claims unexpectedly rise in latest week
* Dow up 0.12 pct, S&P up 0.01 pct, Nasdaq off 0.05 pct * For up-to-the-minute market news see [STXNEWS/US] (Updates volume, adds Google details, Zipcar's debut)
By Rodrigo Campos
NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters) - Stocks that outperform in a weak economy helped the Dow and S&P 500 eke out gains on Thursday as concerns about faltering growth and inflation prompted investors to seek out less volatile names.
The Dow industrials' top percentage gainers were Coca-Cola
Co
Energy shares also rallied as U.S. crude oil futures gained more than 1 percent to trade above $108 a barrel.
The S&P 500 fell almost 1 percent early but found support near 1,300, a level that attracted buying interest in early March. Failing to hold that level could trigger a test of the benchmark's 2011 low near 1,257.
Stocks have sagged lately as economists have lowered forecasts for U.S. growth. A Reuters poll of economists showed 2011 gross domestic product forecasts fell to 2.9 percent from 3.1 percent. For details, see [ID:nSLAEFE7SW].
"GDP forecasts are continuing to fall, so (bets on defensives) are a safety trade," said Peter Boockvar, equity strategist at Miller Tabak & Co in New York.
Adding to the bearish sentiment, Google Inc
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 14.16 points, or 0.12 percent, to end at 12,285.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 <.SPX> gained 0.11 of a point, or 0.01 percent, to 1,314.52. The Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> dropped 1.30 points, or 0.05 percent, to 2,760.22.
GOLDMAN FALLS, EL PASO GAINS
A Senate investigation of Goldman Sachs
Goldman shares fell 2.7 percent to $155.79 and were a drag on the S&P financial sector index <.GSPF>, which was down 0.9 percent. [ID:nN13302596].
Further weighing on financials, major housing lenders agreed late on Wednesday to costly fixes of their foreclosure practices as part of a settlement with U.S. bank regulators that jumped ahead of a states' probe.
The KBW Banks Index <.BKX> dropped 1.1 percent.
Adding to the boost from the energy sector as oil prices
rose, natural gas producer and pipeline company El Paso Corp
"Oil closed above $108 so all the energy stocks rallied this afternoon," Boockvar said.
Weighing on the tech sector, Fairchild Semiconductor
International Inc
Supervalu Inc
TWO STRONG DEBUTS
Although the overall stock market's activity was tepid in Thursday's regular session, the U.S. market for initial public offerings showed signs of strength.
Shares of Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc
McDonald's, a Dow component, rose 0.2 percent to $77.07.
The stock of Zipcar Inc
Ford Motor Co
On the economic front, a government report showed a surprising jump in U.S. jobless claims, raising some questions among investors about the health of the labor market recovery. Economists said the number could be a one-time occurrence. [ID:nN14146589]
The core U.S. Producer Price Index rose faster than expected in March as fuel prices rose strongly, adding to concerns about inflation.
About 6.91 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Amex and Nasdaq, below last year's estimated daily average of 8.47 billion.
Advancing stocks outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by 1,600 to 1,358, while on the Nasdaq, 1,455 stocks rose and 1,121 fell. (Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Jan Paschal)
Written By: Reuters
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