Investing.com – U.S. stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Healthcare, Utilities and Consumer Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.15% to hit a new 1-month high, while the S&P 500 index gained 0.30%, and the NASDAQ Composite index gained 0.42%.
The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), which rose 1.83% or 4.50 points to trade at 250.20 at the close. Meanwhile, Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) added 1.19% or 1.65 points to end at 140.89 and Merck & Company Inc (NYSE:MRK) was up 1.03% or 0.87 points to 85.36 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Dow Inc (NYSE:DOW), which fell 2.24% or 1.11 points to trade at 48.50 at the close. Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) declined 1.43% or 5.33 points to end at 368.63 and Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) was down 0.91% or 0.77 points to 83.53.
The top performers on the S&P 500 were Pacific Gas & Electric Co (NYSE:PCG) which rose 7.16% to 20.51, Allergan PLC (NYSE:AGN) which was up 6.21% to settle at 128.13 and Adobe Systems Incorporated (NASDAQ:ADBE) which gained 5.21% to close at 291.21.
The worst performers were Mattel Inc (NASDAQ:MAT) which was down 5.39% to 11.41 in late trade, EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT) which lost 5.01% to settle at 15.16 and Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) which was down 3.68% to 1.830 at the close.
The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were Akerna Corp (NASDAQ:KERN) which rose 224.43% to 49.80, Melinta Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:MLNT) which was up 223.74% to settle at 6.410 and Diversicare Healthcare Services Inc (NASDAQ:DVCR) which gained 89.15% to close at 4.73.
The worst performers were Jensyn Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ:JSYN) which was down 44.97% to 5.090 in late trade, Legacy Reserves Inc (NASDAQ:LGCY) which lost 27.59% to settle at 0.0790 and Genocea Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:GNCA) which was down 24.80% to 3.850 at the close.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 1840 to 1186 and 26 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 1466 rose and 1173 declined, while 102 ended unchanged.
Shares in EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT) fell to 5-year lows; down 5.01% or 0.80 to 15.16. Shares in Adobe Systems Incorporated (NASDAQ:ADBE) rose to all time highs; up 5.21% or 14.43 to 291.21. Shares in Merck & Company Inc (NYSE:MRK) rose to 5-year highs; up 1.03% or 0.87 to 85.36. Shares in Akerna Corp (NASDAQ:KERN) rose to all time highs; gaining 224.43% or 34.45 to 49.80. Shares in Jensyn Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ:JSYN) fell to all time lows; losing 44.97% or 4.160 to 5.090. Shares in Legacy Reserves Inc (NASDAQ:LGCY) fell to all time lows; falling 27.59% or 0.0301 to 0.0790.
The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was down 5.41% to 14.33 a new 1-month low.
Gold Futures for August delivery was up 1.02% or 13.75 to $1364.45 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August rose 0.54% or 0.29 to hit $54.40 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract unchanged 0.00% or 0.00 to trade at $62.22 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.04% to 1.1229, while USD/JPY fell 0.01% to 108.08.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.43% at 96.733.