The US stock indexes closed Thursday's trading on a mixed note amidst an encouraging data on the country's manufacturing sector, and worsening political crisis in Greece.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.54 percent or 64.10 points to end at 11,961.37. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 0.18 percent or 2.22 points to close at 1,267.64. However, Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. composite index lost 0.29 percent or 7.76 points to finish at 2,623.70. Among other major indices, the New York Stock Exchange composite index lost 0.05 percent or 4.21 points to end at 7,963.60. The American Stock Exchange composite index closed at 2,257.23, down 0.63 percent or 14.20 points.
Hot Stocks of the Day: GE, COF, ING, TM, BA, RIMM
General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) is bidding for nearly $3 billion of energy contracts in Brazil over three years as the industry expands. Shares gained 1.10 percent or 20 cents to close at $18.44.
Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE: COF) is on verge of closing a deal to buy ING Groep NV (NYSE: ING) for nearly $9 billion in cash and stock. Shares of Capital One added 2.36 percent or $1.13 to close at $49, and shares of ING added 0.09 percent or 1 cent to end at $11.29.
Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) declared that its North American factories would return to full capacity by September 2011, two to three months ahead of an earlier forecast. Shares were down 0.01 percent or 1 cent to trade at $79.47.
Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) raised its forecast for the global commercial aircraft market by 8 percent. It now expects demand for 33 thousand aircrafts worth $4 trillion. Shares added 0.22 percent or 16 cents to close at $74.01.
Research in Motion Ltd. (Nasdaq: RIMM) reported a decline in its fiscal first quarter net earnings to $695 million, or $1.33 per share, from $769 million, or $1.38 per share a year earlier. During the quarter, revenue rose by 16 percent to $4.9 billion. Analysts had forecasted earnings of $1.32 per share on revenue of $5.15 billion for the company. Shares gained 0.45 percent or 16 cents to close at $35.47.
Currency & Commodities:
In the world currency market, the US dollar gained 0.17 percent against the euro.