NYSE Breadth Data Telling Two Different Stories, Again

If the stock market looks a bit schizoid Thursday, that's because NYSE breadth data are telling two very different stories. The number of declining stocks on the big board were beating advancers by a score of 1,797 to 1,159. However, volume in advancing stocks was about 55% of total volume, with up volume leading down volume 308.4 million shares to 257.9 million shares. Big board breadth told a similar mixed story on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 42 points in afternoon trade, while the S&P 500 was down 0.4%. The Nasdaq exchange was more in line, with decliners leading advancers 3,959 to 2,553 and down volume beating up volume 399.1 million shares to 283.4 million shares. The Nasdaq Composite slumped 1.4%.