Closing Bell: Weakness Prevails Without Direction (AMP, CSCO, C, PEIX, CRWN, SYMC)

Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP) soared after earnings were given a winning vote. Shares were up 12% at $42.98 before the closing bell.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) fell 0.7% to $23.21 right at the closing bell after this morning saw a brief trading halt on erroneous prints up at $26.00 from the new circuit breaker rules. That is a miniature bash on investor confidence in the system.

Citigroup, Inc. (C) was higher on a down day by 0.7% at $4.12 after reports were out that it is settling a CDO misrepresentation case with the SEC for a mere $75 million.

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEIX) was up 18% at $0.58 right before the close on hope that the new markup for the energy bill will include ethanol subsidy continuation.

Crown Media (CRWN), the owner of the Hallmark Channel, was a big mover today with a gain of 41.5% at $2.52 right before the closing bell. No real news was seen beyond the volume spike, but this was a big volume mover for an otherwise dead stock.

Symantec (SYMC) is showing itself to be the 'worst of class' after earnings and guidance were an utter failure. Shares were down by 11% at $13.03 for a new 52-week low close right at the closing bell.