US close: Stocks mixed following December PPI reading

(Sharecast News) - Wall Street stocks delivered a mixed performance on Tuesday as the blue-chip Dow Jones built on yesterday's gains. At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.52% at 42,518.28, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.11% to 5,842.91 and the Nasdaq Composite saw out the session 0.23% firmer at 19,044.39.

The Dow closed 221.16 points higher on Tuesday, extending gains recorded in the previous session.

Tuesday's primary focus was news that US wholesale inflation rose month-on-month in December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, principally due to heightened energy prices throughout the month.

December's producer price index increased by 0.2% last month, down from the previous month's 0.4% increase. On an annualised basis, producer prices were up 3.3% year-on-year, down from 3.4% in November. When stripping out volatile foods, energy, and trade services, PPI increased by 0.1% in December and 3.3% year-on-year.

Elsewhere on the macro front, the National Federation of Independent Business' optimism index surged to 105.1 in December, the highest reading since October 2018, up from a print of 101.7 in November due to an improved economic outlook following the US federal election.

NFIB economist Bill Dunkelberg said: "Small business owners feel more certain and hopeful about the economic agenda of the new administration. Expectations for economic growth, lower inflation, and positive business conditions have increased in anticipation of pro-business policies and legislation in the new year".

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

Dow Jones - Risers

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) $12.24 2.86% Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $371.57 2.50% 3M Co. (MMM) $137.21 1.94% Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $236.93 1.54% Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $571.53 1.52% Salesforce.Com Inc. (CRM) $323.54 1.40% JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $247.47 1.33% American Express Co. (AXP) $300.18 1.12% Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) $40.08 1.03% Chevron Corp. (CVX) $156.90 1.00%

Dow Jones - Fallers

Boeing Co. (BA) $166.98 -2.08% Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $99.65 -1.32% Nike Inc. (NKE) $71.17 -1.26% Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $267.10 -1.14% Walmart Inc. (WMT) $90.79 -0.81% McDonald's Corp. (MCD) $281.58 -0.72% Apple Inc. (AAPL) $233.28 -0.48% Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $415.67 -0.36% Intel Corp. (INTC) $19.20 0.00% Dowdupont Inc. (DWDP) $0.00 0.00%

S&P 500 - Risers

United Rentals Inc. (URI) $729.86 5.91% Celanese Corp. (CE) $71.00 5.37% Whirlpool Corp. (WHR) $126.02 4.43% Medtronic Plc (MDT) $85.25 4.23% Travel + Leisure Co (TNL) $51.84 3.99% Zions Bancorporation (ZION) $56.48 3.92% Smith A O Corp. (AOS) $71.24 3.82% Paypal Holdings Inc (PYPL) $87.18 3.80% Williams Companies Inc. (WMB) $58.06 3.62% Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) $39.78 3.54%

S&P 500 - Fallers

Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) $744.91 -6.59% Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) $0.90 -6.38% Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $136.48 -5.37% Biogen Inc (BIIB) $143.06 -4.74% Macy's Inc. (M) $14.02 -3.71% Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (REGN) $690.87 -3.63% Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) $23.51 -3.41% IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) $197.96 -3.26% DENTSPLY Sirona Inc. (XRAY) $18.06 -3.22% Dollar General Corp (DG) $69.38 -3.09%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

JD.com, Inc. (JD) $34.74 4.04% Paypal Holdings Inc (PYPL) $87.18 3.80% American Airlines Group (AAL) $18.21 3.47% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) $12.24 2.86% Seagate Technology Plc (STX) $91.23 2.59% Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR) $346.29 2.50% Micron Technology Inc. (MU) $97.36 2.42% Sirius XM Holdings Inc (SIRI) $21.31 1.96% NetEase Inc. Ads (NTES) $96.03 1.89% PACCAR Inc. (PCAR) $110.20 1.89%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $136.48 -5.37% Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) $63.81 -4.75% Biogen Inc (BIIB) $143.06 -4.74% Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (REGN) $690.87 -3.63% DENTSPLY Sirona Inc. (XRAY) $18.06 -3.22% Meta Platforms Inc. (META) $594.25 -2.31% eBay Inc. (EBAY) $64.41 -1.99% Tesla Inc (TSLA) $396.36 -1.72% Align Technology Inc. (ALGN) $210.46 -1.51% Netflix Inc. (NFLX) $828.40 -1.41%