Investing.com – U.S. stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Technology, Healthcare and Consumer Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.64%, while the S&P 500 index climbed 2.41%, and the NASDAQ Composite index added 3.78%.
The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), which rose 10.30% or 33.10 points to trade at 354.45 at the close. Meanwhile, Salesforce.com Inc (NYSE:CRM) added 5.95% or 14.10 points to end at 251.23 and Merck & Company Inc (NYSE:MRK) was up 5.17% or 3.98 points to 80.90 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT), which fell 6.95% or 11.65 points to trade at 156.04 at the close. Dow Inc (NYSE:DOW) declined 4.76% or 2.32 points to end at 46.41 and 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) was down 2.85% or 4.72 points to 160.79.
The top performers on the S&P 500 were Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB) which rose 41.37% to 349.19, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) which was up 14.11% to settle at 149.46 and Cigna Corp (NYSE:CI) which gained 13.97% to close at 209.57.
The worst performers were Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) which was down 9.90% to 135.29 in late trade, Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ:ZION) which lost 9.78% to settle at 31.09 and United Rentals Inc (NYSE:URI) which was down 9.61% to 182.10 at the close.
The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were Aptevo Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:APVO) which rose 40.29% to 15.7550, Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB) which was up 41.37% to settle at 349.19 and Athira Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:ATHA) which gained 28.96% to close at 25.65.
The worst performers were Repro Med Systems Inc (NASDAQ:KRMD) which was down 31.40% to 4.21 in late trade, KBL Merger Corp IV (NASDAQ:KBLM) which lost 17.98% to settle at 6.43 and Tabula Rasa HealthCare Inc (NASDAQ:TRHC) which was down 17.01% to 30.78 at the close.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 1565 to 1349 and 44 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 1400 rose and 1309 declined, while 64 ended unchanged.
Shares in Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB) rose to 52-week highs; up 41.37% or 102.18 to 349.19. Shares in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) rose to all time highs; gaining 10.30% or 33.10 to 354.45. Shares in Aptevo Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:APVO) rose to 52-week highs; rising 40.29% or 4.5250 to 15.7550. Shares in Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB) rose to 52-week highs; up 41.37% or 102.18 to 349.19. Shares in KBL Merger Corp IV (NASDAQ:KBLM) fell to all time lows; down 17.98% or 1.41 to 6.43. Shares in Athira Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:ATHA) rose to all time highs; rising 28.96% or 5.76 to 25.65. Shares in Tabula Rasa HealthCare Inc (NASDAQ:TRHC) fell to 52-week lows; down 17.01% or 6.31 to 30.78.
The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was down 16.01% to 29.86.
Gold Futures for December delivery was down 0.59% or 11.30 to $1899.10 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December rose 3.69% or 1.39 to hit $39.05 a barrel, while the January Brent oil contract rose 3.60% or 1.43 to trade at $41.14 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.09% to 1.1722, while USD/JPY rose 0.03% to 104.50.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.13% at 93.435.