Was today about stocks, or was it about the FOMC starting its 2-day meeting? Or was it about mergers or a huge Indian gold purchase? Markets were mixed late in the day after having been in negative territory earlier. Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:
Dow 9,771.91 -17.53 (-0.18%)
S&P 500 1,045.41 +2.53 (0.24%)
Nasdaq 2,057.32 +8.12 (0.40%)
Top 10 Analyst Calls
Top Market Rumors
Black & Decker Corporation (NYSE: BDK) was up 30% at $61.63 after Stanley Works announced it was giving Black & Decker a 49.5% stake in the new combined company.
Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) did beat earnings last night on mixed metrics, and shares rallied by 1.5% at $24.51.
CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) was up by over 7% at $45.92 late in the trading day ahead of the closing bell, but this was on the huge Buffett-BNSF deal announced.
Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) reversed yesterday's losses. Shares were magically up almost 7% at $59.62 late in the trading day based on short covering and then on bargain buyers.
Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM) was up and up big today. It wasn't news on the company but on the 200 metric tonnes purchase of gold by India announced today. Shares were up 6.5% at $46.40 late in the trading day.
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) came back late in the trading day and managed to gain back losses after put option buyers were active. Shares were up 0.5% at $27.74 late in the day.
Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI) was another solid stock runner today. This was not on fresh news after yesterday's monumental surge, but that did not keep it from hitting new 52-week highs.
Closing Bell: When We All Love the PIIGS (NBG, SQNM, PG, ERTS, KO)
Serious Money: Cheapest Stocks List Shrinks from 26 to 21
Chasing Value: Hasbro Earnings Makes My Point
