The DJIA is modestly lower, pressured by a fall in crude oil prices
The
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) started the day
on the right foot -- thanks, in part, to
Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS) -- but has since drifted into negative territory. Pressuring Dow stocks is a
bearish reversal in oil prices, with June-dated crude futures last seen 2.6% lower at $43.50 per barrel. On the other hand, healthcare stocks are outperforming, and the
S&P 500 Index (SPX) and
Nasdaq Composite (COMP) are both trading higher. Meanwhile, things are quiet on the economic front, though Chicago Fed President Charles Evans spoke earlier, waxing optimistic about the state of the U.S. labor market.
Continue reading for more on today's market -- and don't miss:
Among the stocks with unusual option volume today is Chinese mobile security expert
Qihoo 360 Technology Co Ltd (NYSE:QIHU), as the contracts are running at 11 times the average intraday pace. Digging deeper, buy-to-open activity is detected at the May 72.50 call. At last check, QIHU stock is down 3.8% at $70.70, after China announced it will
restrict the amount of space sector peer Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU) can give to in-search advertisements, following a
student's death.
LendingClub Corp (NYSE:LC) is the biggest decliner on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), following the
scandal-ridden exit of the financial firm's CEO. Specifically, the stock is down nearly 27% at $5.20, and earlier hit a record low of $5.18.
The
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is up 0.1 point, or 0.8%, at 14.84.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.69, with puts handily outstripping calls. At last check, SPY was up 0.1 point, or 0.02%, at $205.78.
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