Investing.com – U.S. stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Basic Materials, Industrials and Technology sectors led shares higher.
At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.87% to hit a new 1-month high, while the S&P 500 index added 1.66%, and the NASDAQ Composite index climbed 1.65%.
The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were McDonald`s Corporation (N:MCD), which rose 8.12% or 8.33 points to trade at 110.87 at the close. Meanwhile, 3M Company (N:MMM) added 4.12% or 6.18 points to end at 156.00 and Boeing Company (N:BA) was up 3.63% or 5.12 points to 146.31 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were American Express Company (N:AXP), which fell 5.24% or 4.01 points to trade at 72.50 at the close. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (N:UNH) declined 3.64% or 4.30 points to end at 113.81 and Pfizer Inc (N:PFE) was down 0.39% or 0.13 points to 33.33.
The top performers on the S&P 500 were eBay Inc (O:EBAY) which rose 13.92% to 27.58, Citrix Systems Inc (O:CTXS) which was up 12.04% to settle at 80.58 and Texas Instruments Incorporated (O:TXN) which gained 11.93% to close at 58.09.
The worst performers were Tenet Healthcare Corporation (N:THC) which was down 18.87% to 28.24 in late trade, Universal Health Services Inc (N:UHS) which lost 10.95% to settle at 111.73 and AbbVie Inc (N:ABBV) which was down 10.33% to 48.270 at the close.
The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were China Housing & Land Development Inc (O:CHLN) which rose 53.68% to 4.380, SmartPros Ltd (O:SPRO) which was up 38.04% to settle at 3.520 and China Natural Resources Inc (O:CHNR) which gained 27.26% to close at 1.79.
The worst performers were Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc (O:ENTA) which was down 40.62% to 23.90 in late trade, Reading International B Inc (O:RDIB) which lost 37.39% to settle at 11.150 and Apollo Group Inc (O:APOL) which was down 32.22% to 7.18 at the close.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 1832 to 705 and 2 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 1571 rose and 954 declined, while 47 ended unchanged.
Shares in Tenet Healthcare Corporation (N:THC) fell to 52-week lows; falling 18.87% or 6.57 to 28.24. Shares in Citrix Systems Inc (O:CTXS) rose to 3-years highs; up 12.04% or 8.66 to 80.58. Shares in AbbVie Inc (N:ABBV) fell to 52-week lows; falling 10.33% or 5.560 to 48.270. Shares in McDonald`s Corporation (N:MCD) rose to all time highs; gaining 8.12% or 8.33 to 110.87. Shares in American Express Company (N:AXP) fell to 52-week lows; falling 5.24% or 4.01 to 72.50. Shares in Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc (O:ENTA) fell to 52-week lows; down 40.62% or 16.35 to 23.90. Shares in SmartPros Ltd (O:SPRO) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 38.04% or 0.970 to 3.520. Shares in Apollo Group Inc (O:APOL) fell to 5-year lows; down 32.22% or 3.42 to 7.18.
The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was down 12.87% to 14.55 a new 1-month low.
Gold for December delivery was down 0.11% or 1.30 to $1165.80 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December rose 0.42% or 0.19 to hit $45.39 a barrel, while the December Brent oil contract rose 0.78% or 0.38 to trade at $48.23 a barrel.
EUR/USD was down 2.03% to 1.1110, while USD/JPY rose 0.65% to 120.71.
The US Dollar Index was up 1.44% at 96.44.