US open: Dow Jones continues to march higher

(Sharecast News) - Wall Street stocks were mixed at the opening bell on Wednesday as the S&P 500 neared an all-time high. As of 1520 GMT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.14% at 37,596.15, while the S&P 500 was down 0.06% at 4,772.00 and the Nasdaq Composite came out the gate 0.09% weaker at 15,061.46.

The Dow opened 50.82 points higher on Wednesday, while the S&P 500 hovered near a record high, sitting within 0.5% of its best close.

As far as Wednesday's headlines go, US mortgage applications dropped 1.5% in the week ended 15 December, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, halting a six-week run of increases. Applications to refinance a home dropped by 2% month-on-month, but remained 18% higher year-on-year, while applications to purchase a home dropped 1%.

Last week's fall comes despite benchmark Treasury yields continuing to decline following dovish signals sent by policymakers at the Federal Reserve.

Elsewhere, the Richmond Federal Reserve manufacturing index dropped to -11 in December, down from -5 in November and the lowest reading in ten months. However, December saw an increase in average growth rates for prices paid and prices received, along with a slight rise in expected price changes over the next 12 months.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

Dow Jones - Risers

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $298.65 1.02% Intel Corp. (INTC) $50.98 0.95% Walmart Inc. (WMT) $157.04 0.40% Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $284.99 0.38% Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $50.46 0.35% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) $26.68 0.26% Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $382.51 0.23% American Express Co. (AXP) $186.40 0.23% Boeing Co. (BA) $263.29 0.19% Chevron Corp. (CVX) $152.63 0.14%

Dow Jones - Fallers

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $90.45 -0.55% Apple Inc. (AAPL) $192.46 -0.31% Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $37.37 -0.29% Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $373.74 -0.24% 3M Co. (MMM) $107.88 -0.22% Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) $145.65 -0.20% Nike Inc. (NKE) $107.87 -0.14% Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $155.97 -0.11% International Business Machines Corporation (CDI) (IBM) $163.07 -0.08% Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $186.94 -0.08%

S&P 500 - Risers

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) $0.53 2.04% Mohawk Inds Inc. (MHK) $104.08 1.40% Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) $141.71 1.21% Westrock Company (WRK) $42.63 1.17% Carmax Inc. (KMX) $77.07 1.17% Dish Network Corp. (DISH) $5.26 1.15% CenturyLink Inc. (LUMN) $1.82 1.11% TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP) $21.69 1.05% Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $298.65 1.02% Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX) $43.26 0.99%

S&P 500 - Fallers

CME Group Inc. (CME) $209.48 -2.48% Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) $29.41 -2.42% Carnival Corp. (CCL) $18.32 -1.59% Sl Green Realty Corp. (SLG) $47.02 -1.57% Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) $664.35 -1.52% International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) $81.19 -1.08% Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) $61.65 -0.96% Macy's Inc. (M) $20.13 -0.93% Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) $4.41 -0.90% Albemarle Corp. (ALB) $151.19 -0.79%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

Tesla Inc (TSLA) $262.59 2.33% Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) $141.71 1.21% Dish Network Corp. (DISH) $5.26 1.15% Mercadolibre Inc. (MELI) $1,592.24 0.99% Intel Corp. (INTC) $50.98 0.95% Meta Platforms Inc. (META) $357.71 0.81% Cintas Corp. (CTAS) $606.86 0.74% Amazon.Com Inc. (AMZN) $154.42 0.66% Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $141.52 0.63% Trip.com Group Limited (TCOM) $34.25 0.62%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

NetEase Inc. Ads (NTES) $88.21 -4.32% Qurate Retail Inc. (QRTEA) $0.85 -2.49% Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) $664.35 -1.52% CSX Corp. (CSX) $34.67 -0.79% Hasbro Inc (HAS) $51.05 -0.68% Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) $23.10 -0.52% Vodafone Group Plc ADS (VOD) $8.73 -0.51% American Airlines Group (AAL) $14.04 -0.50% Micron Technology Inc. (MU) $86.64 -0.48% Paychex Inc. (PAYX) $119.62 -0.47%