Major average closed essentially flat Monday as cautious investors chose to halt last week’s buying spree and wait for next round of economic data. Treasury prices advanced ahead of the next round of note auctions. Oil prices rose to their highest level this year, sending shares of energy producers higher. Commodities advanced. Markets were buoyant through the early afternoon but the rally faded in the afternoon.
The Dow Jones industrial average edged up 3.32 points, or 0.03%, to end at 9,509.28. The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index fell 0.56 points to end at 1,025.57, and the NASDAQ fell 2.92 points, or 0.14%, to 2,017.98. On the New York Stock Exchange, winners narrowly edged losers on volume of 1.23 billion shares.
Shares of auto-related companies were under pressure as the government’s cash-for-clunkers program was set to end. Financial stocks retreated 0.9% after an influential banking analyst noted that the current economic crisis could see another 150-200 banks failing. Moreover, SunTrust Bank (NYSE:STI) CEO warned of further pressure among US banks from troubled commercial real estate loans throughout 2010. Its shares fell 3.8%. The news outweighed a report from Barclays Capital (NYSE:BCS) in which ratings on three credit card firms were raised to “overweight,” due to estimates that a peak in write-offs is near at hand. The firm raised its American Express (NYSE:AXP) rating to “overweight,” and increased its price target to $38 from $28.
A rise in crude prices to almost $75 per barrel helped oil and gas shares lead the gainers on the S&P 500 with a 1.3% advance. Shares of ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) and Chevron (NYSE:CVX) rose 2.0% and 1.5%, respectively. Defensive health care and utility shares also advanced, with gains of 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively.
President Obama’s anticipated, 9:00 AM ET announcement from Martha’s Vineyard, where he is on vacation with his family, regarding the reappointment of Fed Chairman Bernanke could boost sentiments today. Many on the Wall Street like Bernanke’s calming presence and have grown increasingly confident in his ability to avoid further financial missteps. Moreover, the early nomination offers the Chairman the opportunity to make plans beyond the end of his term, which would include the exit strategies needed as the economy improves.
