Stocks reflected the mixed news reports on Thursday: better than expected earnings and retail sales, negative employment data, and fears that Al-Qaeda may have obtained chemical weapons from Iraq all competed for traders’ attention.
The Nasdaq gained 2 to 1399, the S&P 500 lost 3 to 901, and the Dow fell 50 to 8538. Volume declined to 1.24 billion shares on the NYSE, and 1.41 billion on the Nasdaq. Advancers led 17 to 16 on the NYSE, but decliners led by a few issues on the Nasdaq. Upside volume was 51% on the NYSE, and 58% on the Nasdaq. New highs-new lows were 40-28 on the NYSE, and 39-40 on the Nasdaq.
After the close, Adobetopped estimates. EDSsurged on a Bank of America deal. Veritytopped estimates but announced the resignation its CFO, and Cirruswarned.
During the day, Cienasoared 20% on better than expected results.
Yahoosurged 7% after saying its sees 20% ad growth in 2003. Yahoo is also targeting last-minute shoppers as online sales continue to soar.
Internet Securitybolted 10% on an upgrade.
HProse 3% on a deal with DirecTV and a partnership with NEC.
Qualcommand Maximslipped on news of a patent dispute.
Microsoftfell 1% on news of more vulnerabilities. The company also unveiled a new Web service.
Sun, up 1%, also faced a security warning.
AOLslipped on news of more layoffs.
Texas Instrumentsand STMicroelectronicsproposed a multimedia wireless standard.
eSpeedrose 9% to a new 52-week high.
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