The stock market largely ignored unrest across the nation for a second straight day, clawing out small gains as investors focused instead on states' continued efforts to reopen their economies.
A steady drip, drip, drip of positive data -- including improvements in "TSA air travel activity, hotel occupancies, seated diners, and gasoline consumption," according to LPL Financial Equity Strategist Jeffrey Buchbinder -- is helping to keep stocks aloft. That was reflected in the Dow's leaders Tuesday, which included economically sensitive stocks such as Dow (DOW, +5.2%), American Express (AXP, +2.4%) and Caterpillar (CAT, +2.3%).
The industrial average managed to hang on to a 1.1% gain, finishing at 25,743.
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Stocks are getting ever closer to climbing out of the hole. The Dow, which had dropped by as much as 36.7% from its bull-market peak to its bear-market low, is now 12.4% off its highs. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, which is now positive for the year, needs to gain just 2.2% to retake record territory. (And these are 15 of the index's stocks that are expected to help the Nasdaq do it.) That's great if you've stayed fully invested in equities, but investors looking to get back in are slowly watching cheap valuations and high yields erode.
Fortunately, several opportunities remain. These 10 value stocks not only trade at appealing prices, but have the financial strength you want to see in recession-era investments. And income investors can rest easy knowing several lofty yields are still in play.
We've recently examined seven dividend stocks that not only yield 5%, but have been given high "dividend health" ratings that indicate a high chance that the payouts will not just survive, but thrive. Read about each of these high-payout stocks here.
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Stock Market Today: Stocks End Higher in Whipsaw SessionThe main indexes were volatile Thursday with Nvidia earnings in focus.
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Trump Picks Dr. Oz as Head of Medicare and MedicaidPresident-elect Donald Trump picked Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Here's what to know about the former TV host.
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Why Is Warren Buffett Selling So Much Stock?Berkshire Hathaway is dumping equities, hoarding cash and making market participants nervous.
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Fed Cuts Rates Again: What the Experts Are SayingFederal Reserve The central bank continued to ease, but a new administration in Washington clouds the outlook for future policy moves.
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If You'd Put $1,000 Into Google Stock 20 Years Ago, Here's What You'd Have TodayGoogle parent Alphabet has been a market-beating machine for ages.
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Fed Goes Big With First Rate Cut: What the Experts Are Saying
Federal Reserve A slowing labor market prompted the Fed to start with a jumbo-sized reduction to borrowing costs.
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Stock Market Today: Stocks Retreat Ahead of Nvidia EarningsMarkets lost ground on light volume Wednesday as traders keyed on AI bellwether Nvidia earnings after the close.
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Stock Market Today: Stocks Edge Higher With Nvidia Earnings in FocusNvidia stock gained ground ahead of tomorrow's after-the-close earnings event, while Super Micro Computer got hit by a short seller report.
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Stock Market Today: Dow Hits New Record Closing HighThe Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 finished in the red as semiconductor stocks struggled.
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Stock Market Today: Stocks Pop After Powell's Jackson Hole SpeechFed Chair Powell's Jackson Hole speech struck a dovish tone which sent stocks soaring Friday.
