Dow Ends Lower; S&P, Nasdaq Still Perfect in 2018

After touching a record high in intraday trading, the Dow ended the day just below breakeven, snapping a four-session win streak. However, the S&P and Nasdaq both finished at record closing highs, and have yet to end a session in 2018 in the red. A rally in several tech and retail stocks helped push the indexes higher, though bank stocks pulled back ahead of the start of fourth-quarter earnings season.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

• Breaking down stocks' best start to a year in over a decade.
• How President Oprah sent this stock skyrocketing.
• The latest stock boosted by blockchain.
• Plus, Nvidia's new partner; an upbeat note for Albemarle; and the meal delivery stock with options at a bargain.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 25,283.00) ended its winning streak, dropping 12.9 points, or 0.1%. Caterpillar (CAT) led the 14 Dow winners with a 2.5% gain, Intel (INTC) finished flat, and UnitedHealth (UNH) paced the losers with a 1.7% loss.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,747.71) added 4.6 points, or 0.2%, for the day, while the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 7,157.39) picked up 20.8 points, or 0.3%.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 9.52) closed up 0.3 point, or 3.3%, on the day.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. GoPro has reportedly hired JPMorgan Chase to help it undergo a potential sale. The speculation comes just after the company announced job cuts and a dismal fourth-quarter forecast. (CNBC)
2. Toyota made a monumental step forward in a driver-less economy after signing on companies such as Pizza Hut, Amazon, Uber, and more, to its mobility alliance. This alliance will help to develop vehicles that will deliver consumer orders worldwide, and is a "major step forward in our evolution towards sustainable mobility," said Toyota President Akio Toyoda at the Consumer Electronics Show. (Bloomberg)
3.  The online delivery service that could reward option bulls.
4.  Analysts: Expect another big year for Albemarle stock.
5.  The partnership that sent Nvidia stock to a fresh record high.

There were no earnings of note today.

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Crude Manages to Move Up, Gold Snaps Record Winning Streak

February-dated crude finished the session higher, amid lingering geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Crude managed a gain of 29 cents, or 0.4%, to settle at $61.73 per barrel.

Gold ended its record 12-session winning streak today, as the dollar strengthened slightly. February-dated gold finished the day $1.90, or 0.1%, lower, to $1,320.40 per ounce.