Markets Mixed On Data and Fed Comments

U.S. markets picked up where they left off yesterday opening lower despite better than expected initial jobless claims data.  Stocks began climbing after St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard commented that the Fed should delay the end of its quantitative easing program.

Market Radar - % Change

After slipping below $80 for the first time in two years, Nymex crude oil rebounded gaining 1.12% to settle at $82.70 per barrel up $0.92.  Gold were down slightly losing $3.60 to settle at $1,241.2 per ounce down 0.29%.

The major indexes ended the day mixed with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:DJI) rebounding into positive territory after being more than 200 points down at session lows to close down 24.5 points at 16,117.24 down 0.15The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:GSPC) squeezed out a small gain on the day closing at 1,862.76 up .27 points or 0.01%.

The NASDAQ Composite (NASDAQ:IXIC) also managed a small gain closing at 4,217.39 up 2.07 points or 0.05% while the tech heavy NASDAQ 100 fell 20.69 points closing at 3,765.28 down 0.55%.

The Small cap Russell 2000 saw the biggest gains of the day climbing 1.25% to close at 1,085.81 up 13.36 points.  The Fox50 closed down 0.46% at 1,329.79 after shedding 6.08 points.