Investing.com – U.S. stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Healthcare, Technology and Consumer Services sectors led shares higher.
At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.13%, while the S&P 500 index climbed 2.12%, and the NASDAQ Composite index gained 2.64%.
The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT), which rose 4.46% or 5.77 points to trade at 135.10 at the close. Meanwhile, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) added 4.21% or 11.09 points to end at 274.63 and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) was up 3.94% or 4.24 points to 111.96 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), which fell 0.24% or 0.22 points to trade at 91.29 at the close. Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) added 0.29% or 0.34 points to end at 117.05 and Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) was up 0.53% or 0.26 points to 49.37.
The top performers on the S&P 500 were Cimarex Energy Co (NYSE:XEC) which rose 12.07% to 93.19, DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc (NYSE:DVA) which was up 9.86% to settle at 76.08 and Centene Corp (NYSE:CNC) which gained 9.23% to close at 142.96.
The worst performers were Coty Inc (NYSE:COTY) which was down 22.54% to 8.66 in late trade, Michael Kors Holdings Limited (NYSE:KORS) which lost 14.62% to settle at 49.05 and DXC Technology Co (NYSE:DXC) which was down 12.46% to 63.21 at the close.
The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were Forward Pharma A S (NASDAQ:FWP) which rose 47.41% to 1.71, Tilray Inc (NASDAQ:TLRY) which was up 30.64% to settle at 139.60 and Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:IDRA) which gained 27.60% to close at 9.200.
The worst performers were MiMedx Group Inc (NASDAQ:MDXG) which was down 41.16% to 3.66 in late trade, NCS Multistage Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:NCSM) which lost 34.94% to settle at 8.10 and Infinera Corporation (NASDAQ:INFN) which was down 33.39% to 4.15 at the close.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 2346 to 734 and 72 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 1807 rose and 845 declined, while 69 ended unchanged.
Shares in Coty Inc (NYSE:COTY) fell to all time lows; losing 22.54% or 2.52 to 8.66. Shares in Michael Kors Holdings Limited (NYSE:KORS) fell to 52-week lows; down 14.62% or 8.40 to 49.05. Shares in DXC Technology Co (NYSE:DXC) fell to 52-week lows; down 12.46% or 9.00 to 63.21. Shares in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) rose to all time highs; rising 4.21% or 11.09 to 274.63. Shares in Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) rose to all time highs; rising 0.53% or 0.26 to 49.37. Shares in NCS Multistage Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:NCSM) fell to all time lows; down 34.94% or 4.35 to 8.10. Shares in Infinera Corporation (NASDAQ:INFN) fell to all time lows; falling 33.39% or 2.08 to 4.15.
The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was down 17.83% to 16.36.
Gold Futures for December delivery was up 0.30% or 3.70 to $1227.50 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December fell 0.95% or 0.59 to hit $61.62 a barrel, while the January Brent oil contract fell 0.12% or 0.09 to trade at $72.04 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.09% to 1.1437, while USD/JPY rose 0.13% to 113.59.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.18% at 95.94.